Ribes sanguinium 'King Edward VII'

Named after a King of Great Britain, the native flowering currant is found throughout the Pacific Northwest. The showy 'electric neon deep fuchsia' flower clusters cover this plant from February to May attracting birds and butterflies. A bushy and more compact cultivar than the common native, it will grow to 6 ft tall and 4 ft wide in 10 years. The flowering is followed by persistent deep blue berries (edible). 'King Edward VII' is long lived and deer resistant, and tolerates poor clay soils. Drought tolerant.  Received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1904. Benefits from an annual side-dress of compost and some summer water. Prune back by 1/3 immediately after flowering.