6 Best Currant Varieties For Cold Climates That Survive Tough Winters

If you’ve ever stared at a patch of your garden in late winter and wondered what could possibly survive another deep freeze, you’re not alone. The challenge in a cold climate isn’t just surviving the winter; it’s finding plants that actually thrive in it. For a reliable, low-fuss fruit crop that delivers year after year, it’s hard to beat currants.

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Why Currants Are a Top Choice for Cold Climates

Currants are practically designed for tough winters. Originating from northern regions of Europe and Asia, their genetics are hardwired for cold snaps and short growing seasons. They don’t just tolerate the cold; they require a period of winter chill to set fruit properly.

This makes them an incredibly low-maintenance choice for a busy hobby farmer. Unlike more delicate fruits that need winter protection, established currant bushes will shrug off temperatures that would kill other plants. They are among the first shrubs to leaf out in the spring and often provide one of the earliest fruit harvests of the season.

The real payoff comes in their versatility. Whether you’re making jams, jellies, sauces for savory dishes, or simply eating them fresh, currants offer a range of intense flavors you can’t find in the grocery store. For a small amount of space, they provide a reliable and unique harvest that extends your food-producing season.

‘Consort’ Black Currant: Disease-Resistant Pick

When you’re choosing plants, solving problems before they start is the smartest move. ‘Consort’ is the perfect example. Its primary claim to fame is its resistance to white pine blister rust, a devastating disease that uses currants as an alternate host to infect five-needled pines.

If you have Eastern White Pines or other susceptible species on or near your property, planting a rust-resistant variety like ‘Consort’ isn’t just a good idea—it’s a necessity. This single trait can save you from having to choose between your fruit bushes and your mature trees. It’s a workhorse plant that grows vigorously and reliably.

The flavor is classic black currant: rich, musky, and intensely aromatic. It’s a love-it-or-hate-it profile that is absolutely fantastic for processing into jams, cordials, or the classic French liqueur, crème de cassis. Hardy down to Zone 3, ‘Consort’ is a tough, no-nonsense producer for serious preserving.

‘Ben Sarek’ Black Currant: Compact and Productive

Not everyone has space for sprawling, six-foot shrubs. This is where ‘Ben Sarek’ shines. It’s a naturally compact, almost dwarf variety, typically staying around three to four feet tall and wide. This makes it perfect for smaller gardens, raised beds, or even growing in a large container.

Don’t let its smaller stature fool you into thinking it’s a weak producer. ‘Ben Sarek’ is known for its impressive yields of very large berries that grow on short, easy-to-pick clusters called strigs. This efficient growth means you get a concentrated, heavy harvest from a very small footprint.

Developed in Scotland, it was bred for resilience and productivity. It boasts excellent cold hardiness (Zone 3) and good disease resistance. The flavor is a bit milder and sweeter than ‘Consort’, making it a better candidate for fresh eating, though it still holds up wonderfully in preserves.

‘Rovada’ Red Currant: Known for High Yields

If your goal is to process large batches of beautiful red currant jelly, ‘Rovada’ is the variety to plant. Its defining characteristic is its incredible productivity. This plant is an absolute machine when it comes to setting fruit.

The magic of ‘Rovada’ is in its strigs. The fruit clusters are exceptionally long, sometimes reaching six inches, and are packed with large, bright, jewel-like red berries. This makes harvesting incredibly fast and satisfying; you can fill a bowl in just a few minutes.

Hardy to Zone 3, ‘Rovada’ is also a late-season ripener. This is a strategic advantage, as it extends your harvest season and doesn’t compete with early-season berries for your attention. For anyone serious about preserving, the sheer volume and ease of harvest make ‘Rovada’ a top-tier choice.

‘Red Lake’ Red Currant: A Reliable Heritage Choice

Sometimes, the best choice is the one that has proven itself for generations. ‘Red Lake’ is a North American heritage variety that has been a garden staple since the 1930s. Its longevity is a testament to its reliability and balanced qualities.

‘Red Lake’ won’t necessarily give you the longest strigs or the biggest berries, but it delivers consistent, high-quality fruit year after year. The flavor is a perfect balance of tart and sweet, making it a great all-purpose red currant for fresh eating, pies, and jellies. It’s a dependable, middle-of-the-road option that never disappoints.

This variety is known for its vigorous, upright growth and excellent cold hardiness, easily handling Zone 3 winters. For a hobby farmer looking for a single, reliable red currant bush that does everything well, ‘Red Lake’ is a fantastic and proven choice.

‘White Imperial’ Currant: Sweet and Mild Flavor

White currants are a game-changer for anyone who finds red or black varieties too intense. ‘White Imperial’ is arguably the best of the bunch, prized for its exceptionally sweet, mild flavor and low acidity. It’s an albino form of a red currant, not a separate species.

The primary use for these berries is fresh eating. The beautiful, translucent, champagne-colored fruits are a treat straight from the bush and are fantastic mixed into fruit salads or used as a garnish. They lack the sharp, tannic bite of other currants, offering a much more delicate, honey-like taste.

‘White Imperial’ is a productive and reliable shrub, hardy to Zone 3. While you can make a lovely pale jelly with them, their true value is in providing a unique fresh-eating experience that you simply can’t buy. It’s a perfect way to diversify your garden’s flavor profile.

‘Pink Champagne’ Currant: A Beautiful, Unique Berry

For a berry that is as beautiful as it is delicious, look no further than ‘Pink Champagne’. This variety produces stunning, translucent pink berries that seem to glow on the bush. It’s a standout in the garden, offering both ornamental and edible value.

The flavor is what truly sets it apart. It strikes a perfect balance between the sweetness of a white currant and the bright tartness of a red one. Many gardeners consider it the best-tasting currant for eating fresh, with a complex, wine-like flavor that is truly unique.

While it may be slightly less productive than a powerhouse like ‘Rovada’, its superior flavor and appearance make it well worth the space. It’s hardy to Zone 3 and grows into a healthy, manageable shrub. If you want a special treat from your garden, ‘Pink Champagne’ delivers.

Planting and Care for Your Winter-Hardy Currants

Getting your currants established correctly is simple but crucial. Pick a spot with full sun to light afternoon shade. While they tolerate some shade, you’ll get the best fruit production with at least six hours of direct sun. Good air circulation is also key to preventing fungal diseases like powdery mildew.

Currants are not picky about soil, but they thrive in well-drained loam with plenty of compost or aged manure mixed in. When planting, set the bush about two inches deeper than it was in its nursery pot. This encourages a stronger, more extensive root system and a sturdier plant.

The most important annual task is pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove any dead, damaged, or weak canes. The goal is to maintain a mix of one-, two-, and three-year-old canes, removing the oldest wood (four years or older) each year, as this is where production declines. A good mulch of wood chips or straw will help retain moisture and suppress weeds, making your job even easier.

Choosing the right currant is about matching the plant’s strengths to your goals, whether that’s disease resistance, high yields for preserving, or a unique flavor for fresh eating. By selecting one of these proven cold-hardy varieties, you’re setting yourself up for years of reliable, low-effort harvests that truly capture the taste of your garden.