Currant tree: beautiful all seasons
When the currant tree blossoms, it really is spring. The currant, as this shrub is also called, used to be cultivated in Europe and often planted in farmers’ gardens for its aromatic, sweet, currant-like fruit, which was even sold at the markets. The little tree belongs to the Rosaceae family.
Where does the currant tree grow?
In Drente, Overijssel, Noord-Brabant and Zuid-Limburg, the currant tree grows in the wild. In the Netherlands, the flowering currant tree can be enjoyed in the spring in the ‘currant gardens’ near Dwingelo in Drenthe and on the Eerde Estate near Ommen. The currant tree is indigenous to North America, except for the species Amelanchier ovalis (mountain lime) which can be found in the southern Alpine region up to an altitude of 2000 m.
Naming of the currant tree
Latin: Amelanchier
English: june berry or snowy mespilus
German: Felsenbirne or Korinthenbaum
Amelanchier is a word from Savoy and probably means misspelling. We also see this in the English word mespilus. Snowy refers to the berries, which appear to be frosted. The German word Felsenbirne refers to the European species that grows between the rocks. Corinthenbaum means currant tree, and this has to do with the fact that many currants used to be imported from Corinth.
