American mountain gooseberry, Canadian Gooseberry, Smooth Gooseberry, Northern gooseberry
Grossularia oxycanthoides

Family: Grossulariaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 45-80 cm high and spreads 70 cm wide. It loses its leaves during the year. The stems are slender and have bristles and thorns. The spines are 1.5 cm long. The leaves are heart shaped and are glossy and dark green. They have 5 lobes. The flowers are greenish-white or light mauve and occur singly or in pairs. The fruit are purple-red berries and are edible.

There are about 150 Ribes species.

Where it is found

A temperate plant. In Canada it grows in wet forests and also on exposed rocky sites. It suits hardiness zones 2-8.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Canada, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh. They are also added to soups. They are dried and stored for later use. They are used to make preserves.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Hawthorn-leaved gooseberry

Synonyms

Ribes oxycanthoides L.;