Succeeds in an ordinary well-drained moisture retentive soil. Tolerates poor dry soils and maritime exposure. Established plants are drought resistant. A very cold-tolerant plant. Plants rarely produce fruit in Britain. Occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties. 'Xanthocarpa' has yellow fruits. The fruit is difficult to harvest because the shrub is very thorny. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Fruit - raw or cooked. It can also be dried and used like currants. A tart but pleasant flavor even before a frost, it becomes sweeter after frosts. The fruit is also used for making preserves, pies etc. The fruit should be used in moderation due to the saponin content. The fruit is produced singly or in clusters, it is up to 9mm long and contains a single seed.

Seed - it must not be allowed to dry out. It is best harvested in the autumn and sown immediately in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 2 - 3 months cold stratification. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle. If sufficient growth is made it will be possible to plant them out in the summer, otherwise grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in the following spring or early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame sometimes work.

Banks of streams and open wooded areas, often on limestone and on sandy soils.