Blister-Rust-Resistant Currant Varieties
Currants were banned across the United States for most of the twentieth century, and in several states they still are, because the black currant is the alternate host of white pine blister rust, a fungus that kills five-needle pines. The federal ban was lifted in 1966, but a number of northern and eastern states still prohibit black currants outright or permit only varieties that are immune to the rust. Check your state's rule before ordering; the resistant varieties are usually the ones the rule allows.
These 7 carry documented resistance, and the disease column gives each one's actual rating rather than a blanket claim. Consort, Crusader and Titania are the immune or highly resistant black currants, descended from crosses with a rust-proof Asian species, and Willoughby is in the same group. The reds and whites, Red Lake and Primus among them, were never the main problem and are generally unrestricted, but their tolerance is listed too. Crusader needs a partner and Titania sets better with one, so read the self-fertile column for the blacks. All are hardy to zone 3 or 4 and ripen in June and July.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
| Variety | Disease resistance | Self-fertile | Zones | Ripens | Notes | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Sarek | resistant to mildew; good white pine blister rust resistance | Partial | 3-7 | Early-mid July | large, rich, aromatic black berries for cordials and jamA good black currant for small gardens; partially self-fertile, with fruit set improving markedly with a second cultivar nearby. | Browse growers |
| Consort | immune to white pine blister rust; fairly resistant to most Ribes pests | Yes | 4-8 | June-July | sweet-tart black berries with an earthy, musky depthOhio State lists Consort among the black currants immune or highly resistant to white pine blister rust, so it is one of the cultivars permitted where Ribes nigrum is otherwise restricted. In Ohio State's Ribes trial it was the top yielder at 2,924 lb per acre with 13.1 Brix. A Ribes nigrum x R. ussuriense hybrid. | Buy $19.99 |
| Crusader | immune to white pine blister rust | No | 3-7 | Mid July | black berries of fair dessert quality, good for processingRust-immune Canadian cultivar (a Ribes nigrum x R. ussuriense hybrid) that is self-sterile, so it must be paired with a compatible black currant to set fruit. | Browse growers |
| Primus | fairly resistant to most Ribes pests; not a white pine blister rust host of concern | — | 3-8 | June-July | very sweet, translucent white berries, high in vitamin CUMass lists Primus as one of the white currant alternatives to Blanka, along with White Imperial. Being a white currant rather than a black one, it sits outside the blister rust restrictions that follow Ribes nigrum in some states. | Buy $19.99 |
| Red Lake | good; moderately rust tolerant | Yes | 3-7 | Early-mid July | bright, tart red berries for jelly, juice, and fresh use — The most widely sold, dependable red currant and a safe default for US home growers needing no pollinizer. | Buy $24.99 |
| Titania | strong white pine blister rust resistance; mildew resistant | Partial | 3-7 | July | large, high-quality black berries, heavy yieldsVigorous, disease-resistant, and productive; only about 44% self-fertile in trials, so plant a second black currant for maximum fruit set. | Buy $19.99 |
| Willoughby | immune or highly resistant to white pine blister rust | — | 3-8 | — | good-quality black berries on a productive bushOhio State names Willoughby among the black currants immune or highly resistant to white pine blister rust, alongside Consort, Crusader, Coronet, Lowes Auslese, Polar and Titania. Plant lust records it at USDA 3a-8b and 3-4 ft tall by 4-6 ft wide. | Buy $24.99 |