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Ribes nigrum LOWBERRY® ‘Little Black Sugar’ 13cm

Name: Ribes nigrum LOWBERRY® ‘Little Black Sugar’ 13cm
Brand: Greenleaf Garden Center
SKU: RibesLittleBlackSugar13cm
Price: 11.2 EUR
Availability: OutOfStock

€11,20

Quantity

Compact blackcurrant · very sweet berries · ideal for small spaces

Ribes nigrum LOWBERRY® ‘Little Black Sugar’

More dependable fruit than your greengrocer 😅

Family: Grossulariaceae · Pot diameter: 13cm · organically grown · Height: approximately 45cm

Height 80–100cm
Early June harvest
Medium-large sweet berries
Good mildew tolerance

Ribes nigrum LOWBERRY® ‘Little Black Sugar’ brings full blackcurrant flavour to a dense bush that fits comfortably on a terrace or in a small bed. Early black berries are sweet, juicy and milder in their characteristic aroma, making them pleasant to eat straight from the string. With healthy foliage, good branching and a final height of about one metre, it delivers far more fruiting-shrub experience than its compact scale suggests.

Place it near a path or seating area, as ripe berries are ideal for frequent small pickings once they turn deep black.

What makes it special

Its value lies in the rare union of truly compact growth and sweet black fruit for fresh eating.

Small footprint

Naturally dense branching keeps the bush around 80–100cm without losing the characteristic Ribes form.

Sweetness comes first

High sweetness softens the strong resinous blackcurrant note and makes the fruit friendly for eating straight from the bush.

An early basket

Short strings ripen from mid-June, opening the season before many taller blackcurrants.

Why you will love it: It combines the feel of a full fruiting shrub with a size that lets you see and pick every berry easily.

In the garden & on the terracePositioning & plant combinationsA large container or the front of a cool bed, in sun to bright partial shade.

Planting position

Ideal position

Give it morning sun and protection from the fiercest afternoon light. Allow 80–100cm in height and 60–80cm in spread, leaving a clear 20cm circle around the crown.

Colour & compatibility

Compatible combinations

Use low foliage and flowers that highlight the black berries without covering the compact bush.

Fragaria vesca — It covers the outer zone at low level and continues the edible theme with small aromatic fruit.
Heuchera ‘Lime Marmalade’ — Bright yellow-green foliage creates a clear contrast with the black berries.
Carex oshimensis — Fine arching blades soften the container edge without competing in height.

Care at a glance

Light

Sun to partial shade; avoid fierce reflected heat.

Water

Deep watering when the surface dries, especially while berries fill.

Climate & hardiness

Very good winter hardiness; compact roots in a container need protection from extreme frost.

Safety

Wash fully ripe fruit before eating.

Detailed careComplete care guideSoil, watering, support, feeding and cultivar-specific prevention.

Soil & drainage

Plant in fertile, humus-rich soil that holds even moisture without waterlogging. An organic mulch over the outer root zone keeps the soil cool.

Watering

Water deeply when the surface dries, with particular consistency from flowering until the berries fill. Avoid both prolonged drought and permanently saturated soil.

Shape & airflow

Keep 6–8 short basal stems with light in the centre. Support is rarely needed beyond a low ring if fruiting tips bow.

Feeding

In early spring add mature compost and a balanced fruit-shrub feed according to its label. Stop nitrogen-rich applications early in summer.

Heat & moisture

In regions with very hot summers choose morning sun and afternoon shade. A lasting mulch and deep watering protect the shallow roots.

Prevent problems

Remove a few dark old stems each year, clear fallen leaves from the dense centre and avoid wetting foliage in the evening.

From flower to basketFruiting & harvestSimple guidance on pollination, ripening, picking and protecting the crop.

Pollination

It is self-fertile and crops alone. A second blackcurrant with similar flowering time can improve filling of the strings.

When it ripens

Harvest begins early, from mid-June, and continues into early July.

How to harvest

Pick the short string when every berry is black, soft and sweet, or take the ripest berries one by one.

Fruit protection

The low crown is easily covered with a small netted dome. Lift it daily for picking and inspection.

After planting: maintain even moisture and let the bush fill with short strong stems before beginning annual renewal.

Clear pruning planHow to prune this fruiting plantLate February to early March, before bud break

When to prune

Late February to early March, before bud break

‘Little Black Sugar’ is naturally compact but needs light in the centre to keep berries sweet. Remove a few of the darkest stems each year and never clip the outer surface into a ball.

Build

Filling the crown

Remove only broken, very thin or horizontal stems lying over the soil.

Action: Remove only broken, very thin or horizontal stems lying over the soil.

Retain: Keep 5–6 strong short stems to build a full bush.

Train

Compact production

Thin one crossing branch from the centre and remove very low laterals. Leave healthy tips at their natural length.

Action: Thin one crossing branch from the centre and remove very low laterals. Leave healthy tips at their natural length.

Retain: Keep 6–8 well-lit stems and short strings on younger wood.

Renew

Small annual renewal

Cut 2–3 of the thickest darkest stems at ground level and choose the same number of new replacements.

Action: Cut 2–3 of the thickest darkest stems at ground level and choose the same number of new replacements.

Retain: Retain the low outline while creating clear windows of light between stems.

New / productive — retainOld or exhausted woodCut point

Clean tools

Use sharp, clean tools suited to the diameter of the wood.

After harvest

Remove one exhausted stem only if it shades new growth. Leave the remaining foliage until natural leaf fall.

Do not do this: Do not shorten every tip to keep it small; it is already genetically compact and uniform clipping crowds the crown unnecessarily.

Development over timeHow the plant developsA realistic path from establishment to mature form.

Dense establishment

Short basal stems branch early and quickly fill a large container.

Early fruiting

Short strings appear among lobed leaves and darken before many tall cultivars.

Stable small size

Annual removal of a little old wood keeps the crown young without increasing final height.

Mature habit & dimensions

Mature form in 3–5 years

Height 0.8–1mSpread 0.6–0.8mCompact rounded bush

Mature ‘Little Black Sugar’ is low, well branched and filled with short fruit strings among dense lobed foliage.

Form through the seasons

Early flowers · June berries

LOWBERRY®Dense branchingSweet black fruit

Early springAromatic buds and green-yellow flowers open along the short stems.

Early summerBlack berries nestle within dense foliage and ripen in short strings.

Genetically reduced growth combines with normal-sized leaves and berries; it is not a bonsai.

What to expect after planting: Short basal stems branch early and quickly fill a large container.

History & originCultivar originThe Lowberry® selection that made sweet blackcurrant genuinely practical for containers and small gardens.

‘Little Black Sugar’ emerged from Lubera’s long-running blackcurrant programme in Switzerland. For about 25 years breeders combined Swedish, Russian, Lithuanian and Ukrainian lines, seeking sweeter fruit, larger berries and cleaner foliage.

Within this material an unusually short, heavily branched bush was selected. In trials it remained around one metre tall, showed good mildew tolerance and ripened early berries in which sweetness dominated the strong blackcurrant aroma.

The selection joined the LOWBERRY® range during the 2010s and was named ‘Little Black Sugar’ to describe the bush size and fruit character. Its stable compact habit opened blackcurrant growing to terraces and small beds.

Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific details nobody asked forBotanical detail behind the plant's appearance and behaviour

Sweetness and aroma perception

A higher ratio of soluble sugars to acids does not remove cassis volatiles; it changes how the palate perceives them, making the flavour milder.

Compact through branching

Reduced vertical extension is accompanied by more short laterals, allowing the bush to retain a large leaf area and many fruiting sites in a low volume.

Frequently asked questions

Six practical answers for choosing, growing, harvesting and pruning this exact cultivar.

01Does it need another plant?

No. It is self-fertile, while a second blackcurrant can improve filling of the strings.

02How large does it become?

Approximately 80–100cm high and 60–80cm wide, with naturally dense branching.

03Is it suitable for a container?

Yes. Use a large deep container, cool compost and a low ring only if the tips bow.

04When is the fruit picked?

From mid-June into early July, when berries are fully black, soft and sweet.

05Is it sharply acidic?

No. Sweetness is dominant and the characteristic aroma is milder than in many traditional blackcurrants.

06When should it be pruned?

In late winter, removing 2–3 of the darkest old stems at ground level.

Ribes nigrum LOWBERRY® ‘Little Black Sugar’ 13cm

Ribes nigrum LOWBERRY® ‘Little Black Sugar’ 13cm

What makes it special

Small footprint

Sweetness comes first

An early basket

Ideal position

Compatible combinations

Care at a glance

Light

Water

Climate & hardiness

Safety

Soil & drainage

Watering

Shape & airflow

Feeding

Heat & moisture

Prevent problems

Pollination

When it ripens

How to harvest

Fruit protection

Filling the crown

Compact production

Small annual renewal

Clean tools

After harvest

Dense establishment

Early fruiting

Stable small size

Mature habit & dimensions

Form through the seasons

Sweetness and aroma perception

Compact through branching

Frequently asked questions

Ribes nigrum LOWBERRY® ‘Little Black Sugar’ 13cm — Care & Tips

We take care of the packaging!

With specially designed boxes, we ensure that the plants will reach you intact, no matter what they encounter on the way!

All plants in 3L pots or larger are placed in individual boxes that secure the plant at the base of the pot, preventing it from tipping over.

The cardboard used for the boxes is specially made to provide resistance to potential impacts during transport.

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