Savanna Zap™ Black Currant
A lower growing, spreading plant that grows only around 3 feet tall by 4 or 5 feet wide, producing great crops of very large currant berries. Delicious flavor and excellent resistance to white pine blister rust and resistant to powdery mildew.
The Savanna black currants cultivars (formerly known as Stikine and Tahsis) were bred by Richard McGinnis of British Columbia, Canada. The McGinnis Berry Crop Breeding Program focused on disease resistance, tolerance to late frost, and advancing flavor and nutrition. The Savanna Institute has taken up McGinnis’s torch to further breeding of black currants and other crops suited for Agroforestry in North America.
Latin Name: Ribes nigrum
Site and Soil: Currants like 1/2 day to full sun and well-drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile
Hardiness: Hardy to minus 40° F.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 3-5 ft. in height
Bloom Time: March-April
Ripening Time: Late July
Taste: Aromatic, sweet
Yield: 10-20 lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Currants are not bothered by significant pest or disease problems in our region. White Pine Blister Rust can be a problem for Black Currants in certain eastern and Midwestern states. Check with your extension service for details.
USDA Zone: 3-8