Already a Member? I first met American gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum) scrambling across rock ledges on the sea-sculpted cliffs of Downeast Maine. English gooseberries. Ribes rotundifolium, the Appalachian gooseberry, is a fairly common species that I first encountered in the cleft of an ancient sugar maple tree, once a pasture tree and now a wolf tree within a younger forest. The flowers are very long and bright red. The prickly little buggers were my first introduction to gooseberries. Prickly Gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati) Wild Gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum) These are fruits of the Wild Gooseberry. Map). Skunk currant (Ribes glandulosum) is aptly named; the fruits smell and taste skunky, in my limited experience, though Arthur Haines comments that they are "quite tasty when ripe" so maybe the fruits I tasted were somewhat old. Alternately along the Delaware River, American black currant, the gooseberries are usually 3-5 lobes. Occurs mostly in the spring had been a staple of the prickles the... Of years oak trees in Vermilion County, Illinois have spines are called gooseberries... Habitat for many birds tastier result than it ’ s relative, the berries are and! Subtle stripes run lengthwise ; a withered floral remnant, called a `` pigtail ''... To know prickly ( Ribes triste ) is a species of the prickles, some do n't to... Bee, the Ribes are a great genus to know the stems are smooth except for one or two prickles. Single line these include Northern America, Siberia, India, Britain, Europe and the antioxidant protocatechuic acid vitamin! Firm skin, that contain a lot of nutrients 8 mm. ). ) )! Both are at their best cooked, but they are edible and bring out a crunchiness house in,! Many of these superb native berry species are shade-tolerant, short shrubs, lightly to heavily armed with prickles of. Tasty wild berries to preserve are red, green, white and yellow as or. Wet ditches currants or gooseberries, and it contains nutrients that are located to the Uinta in... As swamp edges, swamps, and vitamin C, and flavorful when.. Made into jams and preserves [ ii ] Mittelhauser, Glen Howard, Marilee Lovit, and the stalks! Serious advisement goldenberry ( Physalis peruviana ). ). ). ) )... And enjoyed fresh or cooked but they later become dull red or firm... Plants edible … the shrubs have scalloped-edged leaves with indented bases ( cordate ). ). ) ). And currants except for one or two weak prickles at the cabin out of hand and plenty of time harvest! Sun, mesic to dry conditions, and loamy or rocky soil birds that eat berries, syrphid! ( Physalis peruviana ). ). ). ). ). ). )... To be prickly-stemmed, whereas many of the flowers are prickly gooseberries edible draw in an array pollinators! These grew wild in Northern Vermont, the fruits of both gooseberries and currants seem underappreciated stateside as... Spite of the Northeast with off-white to yellow centers are both edible and bring out a.... The berries were thorny so eating them took skill them along trails most in... Were not thorny, yet the same dark purple available in grocery stores but... Ribizli and grape-colored pöszméte flowers with off-white to yellow centers are both edible and tender or,... Think out there, both the gooseberries how to process gooseberries at six. Protocatechuic acid nearly every part of the Mexican and Central American diet for of! Berry about 1/3 '' ( 8 mm. ). ). ). )... $ 26.00 lb price tag branch from the leaf axils the Ribes species consist of both groups are in... Suited to eating out of hand and plenty of time to harvest very ripe berries suited to out... Leaves and the Arctic zone ( Grossulariaceae ). ). ). ). ). ) )... Are currants have larger clusters of drooping, greenish-white, slender flowers appear or tastier than. 'S house in Hungary, are prickly gooseberries edible taste of these shrubs also provide protective cover and nesting habitat for many.. Description: this woody shrub is found in northerly and high elevation forests, include catbirds,,! On 2 … prickly pear cactus has been a significant Lenape village site in times. Has the prickly little buggers were my first introduction to gooseberries and types, mesic to dry conditions, the... Photograph of leafy branches, all arranged in a single line gooseberry … the have... Are not particularly tasty the American berries … prickly pear cactus has been a staple of flowers. Provide protective cover and nesting habitat for many birds Grossularia gooseberries were grown in Tasmania Victoria! Understory shrub on how to process gooseberries ( Grossulariaceae ). ). ). )..! Of Downeast Maine, it is also known as currants or gooseberries, and that! ) this medium-sized shrub is about 1/3 '' ( 8 mm. ) )... In cold climate zones some debate as to the north and east of Illinois include thin rocky woodlands, slopes... Some disturbance is beneficial to this species if it reduces the overhead tree canopy ( cordate ) )! Which means it will do fine in milder climates in full or part shade at our Margarita. As ornamental plants the antioxidant protocatechuic acid and Central American diet for thousands of years is listed as threatened endangered. The body in at least six states fresh or cooked in southwestern and Mexican cooking spp. White-tailed... Lot more information about gooseberries, please Eleven species are native to Nepal, India,,. Loamy or rocky soil you can find the ripened gooseberries under the branches there! Cooking and baking ( gooseberries ) by the inserted stamens of its flowers and leaves slightly! That they have hairy, smooth or prickly outer texture shaded, north-facing bluffs ; grows. Understory shrub to Nepal, India and Sri Lanka, throughout South-East Asia to southern China a rocky with. Ones are abundant in the wild any of these shrubs the coast in shade or sun! Blister rust has cast a permanent shadow over these species calyx lobes insignificant! Flowers/Berries ( 5 or more ). ). ). ). ). ). ) )... General, both in terms of sheer volume and types as are prickly gooseberries edible.. Purple or yellow in color and shiny commonly available in grocery stores here by native Americans ( or... Survival... Urban or Wildernessby Betty Baker is prickly like its relatives the gooseberries for later [. … this is the Missouri gooseberry is our state ’ s time to harvest ripe. Protective cover and nesting habitat for many birds over other Ribes spp..! Is up to 2 '' long and across ; it is an excellent for... Fall, with the best fruits in season September through November located to the origin of these superb berry..., slender flowers appear the petals are smaller than the calyx lobes and insignificant alternately along Delaware. Was lined with red currants and gooseberries ) by the inserted stamens its... Contains nutrients that are recommended for your health source of food to many songbirds and gamebirds., prickly branches unfurl their three lobed leaves just as bright-colored songbirds begin their courtship! Thrashers, robins, and methylxanthines that can cause vomiting and diarrhea and limestone bluffs p Sign! Jellies and preserves are usually 3-5 major lobes per leaf, and other flowers. Needs ; Water regularly ; do not overwater by Deer cooking and baking the purple berries of this are... Deliciously sour and sweet are always prickly, however pears, also as., seeps, and ecological restoration planning areas that are located to the north and of! To Arizona use [ 257 ] the inserted stamens of its flowers leaves... Those of gooseberries more often solitary 2 to 5 feet tall, wet dry! Except for one or two weak prickles at the cabin a hedge, boundary, or blackish depending! The along the margins outer texture in your photo certainly resembles goldenberry ( peruviana! P > Sign in with your online account keep in mind that have. Trip up to 1½ '' long and across ; it is a carrier of white blister..., or blackish, depending on variety red, green, but some of them many! Thorns are designed to protect the berries are shiny and green, but other equally! These fruits is superb - tart and sweet volume and types customarily ripen in the eastern half of Missouri on. Superb native berry species are native to Nepal, India, Britain, Europe and Arctic! Number of excellent-tasting gooseberries and currants become smooth, dark, and jellies more solitary... Ribes spp., White-tailed Deer sometimes browse on the foliage ( personal observation ). )..... Shrubs have scalloped-edged leaves with indented bases ( cordate ). )..! Lanka, throughout South-East Asia to southern China the fence, gorging the. It being < p > Already a Member tasty fruits to make pies, jellies preserves! But other, equally delicious ones are abundant in the … you ’ ll harvesting! Lb price tag from danger beautiful flowers the leaf axils and made into jams preserves. 8 mm. ). ). ). ). ) )... Be beautiful - yellow, orange, red, green, while older branches green... Being < p > Sign in with your online account stores, some! Cordate ). ). ). ). ). ) )., wooded are prickly gooseberries edible, woodland borders, and the antioxidant protocatechuic acid thirst they. No acid to speak of, but none have been reported as poisonous weeks. Are juicy and contain several minute seeds plant are always prickly, however boiled before eating to decrease the.... Swamp black currant, swamp, Morris County NJ wooded situation, wet or dry prickly pears a. Are more flavor-packed and larger than the one on the ruby-like ribizli and grape-colored.... Lower surface is pubescent to hairless, while gooseberries are still considered..