An easily grown plant, it thrives in any good garden soil, preferring one on the dryish side. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in the light shade of trees. This species is hardy to about -15°c if growing in a sheltered position. Established plants sucker freely and form quite dense thickets. The flowers are scented. Resistant to honey fungus.

Fruit - raw or cooked. An acid flavor but it is rather nice raw, especially when added to muesli or porridge. Unfortunately, there is relatively little flesh and a lot of seeds. Used for making jams. jellies etc. They can also be made into a refreshing lemonade-like beverage. When sugar is added, the fruit juice is similar to grape juice. The fruit is about 9mm in diameter.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. It usually germinates in the spring. 'Green' seed (harvested when the embryo has fully developed but before the seed case has dried) should be sown as soon as it is harvested and germinates within 6 weeks. Stored seed should be sown as soon as possible in late winter or spring. 3 weeks cold stratification will improve its germination, which should take place in 3 - 6 months at 10°c. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Division of suckers in spring. Whilst they can be placed direct into their permanent positions, better results are achieved if they are potted up and placed in a frame until established. Leaf cuttings in the autumn.

Hills and slopes, often in partial shade, usually on dry slopes.