As March comes in like a lion, it is hard to believe that in a couple of weeks Ribes sanguineum 'White Icicle' should be covered in pendulous racemes of pure white flowers, long lasting and noticeably earlier than the species.

It is most unusual to see these exotic looking plants in flower outside of a glasshouse environment, but the acacias were planted in Sheffield Botanical Gardens in the Spring of 2013 and have since thrived, so much so, that they are covered in bud and flowers to welcome the spring.

This shrub is a delight in mid-winter, skirting the path parallel to the main path leading up to the fountain, in the Award of Garden Merit Border.