Narrative
Crandall- Ribes odoratum, a native American fruit. Crandall was introduced in 1888. It is grown for its attractive and fragrant large yellow flowers that are followed by large, juicy berries. The dark red to black berries have a pleasant taste for fresh eating or make a flavorial jam, jelly, syrup or spread. Crandall doubles as an ornamental and fruit producer which is not susceptible to White Pine Blister Rust, also immune to cane blight. Plants of the largest size, often 8 feet high, very vigorous, upright, slightly spreading, very dense, variable productivity, young shoots light and dark brown glossy, pubescent, numerous.Flowers midseason, large, partly closed, golden yellow, in short, dense, few flowered fragrant clusters. Fruit very late, period of ripening unusually long, medium thick, pubescent berries, variable in size small to very large, roundish oblate, to slightly obovate, not very juicy, somewhat soft seedy, sprightly to rather tart with strong taste, quality poor to fair. SFNY. 1925. Crandall is the sole representative of R. odoratum widely distributed throughout the country, being a familiar inhabitant of dooryards and parks as an ornamental. The tough skin and unpleasant flavor condem it as a garden plant. The variety is often sold under the name Flowering Currant. There is said to be a productive strain on the market. Plant 8 feet in height, very vigorous, hardy, unproductive. Leaves roundish cordate, 3 inches broad, thin, pubescent on bot surfaces; margins coarsely serrate; petiole short, slender; Flowers late, yellow, few ; pedicels short, pubescent, green. Fruits borne in clusters of 1 to 5 drop when ripe, 1/2 inch in diameter, round-oblate, black, glossy, smooth; flesh greenish-yellow rather dry, sprightly, very aromatic; quality fair seeds many.Hedrick, U.P. 1922. Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits. The Macmillan Company, NY. p. 306. Named for Mr. R. W. Crandall, discoverer. Introduced by Frank Ford and Sons, Ravenna, Ohio. Cultivar Synonym= Pewterberry. NAMED FOR= Mr. R. W. Crandall