Oak Summit Nursery
Topsy Black Currant
Topsy Black Currant
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Topsy is a Canadian heritage black currant associated with William Saunders in Ottawa around 1890. The historical account describes large clusters of fairly thick skinned berries with a pleasant, briskly acidic flavour.
It was recorded as a vigorous, moderately productive midseason shrub. Its reported currant and gooseberry pedigree is historical documentation rather than a modern genetic confirmation.
Cold hardiness zone: 3
Botanical name: Ribes 'Topsy'
History: Canadian heritage selection associated with William Saunders around 1890
Fruit: Large clusters with a pleasant, briskly acidic flavour
Season: Historically described as midseason
Growth: Vigorous shrub
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Growing details
- Hardiness
- Zone 3Oak Summit nursery rating
- Botanical name
- Ribes 'Topsy'Reviewed identity
- History
- Canadian heritage selection associated with William Saunders around 1890
- Fruit
- Large clusters with a pleasant, briskly acidic flavour
- Season
- Historically described as midseason
- Growth
- Vigorous shrub
More about this plant
What makes this selection useful
Canadian heritage selection associated with William Saunders around 1890.
Cold hardinessZone 3 · Canadian maps for this plant
Zone 3 and warmer
The map shows minimum winter hardiness. Soil, moisture and summer warmth also affect how a plant grows.
About these maps
Climate: Natural Resources Canada, 1991–2020. Provincial distribution: VASCAN via retained botanical research. Province outlines: Natural Earth, public domain.
Open Government Licence – Canada