European Gooseberry, English Gooseberry
Ribes uva-crispa

Family: Grossulariaceae

What it is like

A small thorny shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows to 1-2 m tall. It spreads 1 m wide. The stems are thorny. The leaves are small and heart shaped. They have 3-5 lobes and teeth along the edges. The flowers are green. The fruit has a tough skin covered with spiky hairs. The fruit can be green or red.

There are about 150 Ribes species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on many soils. It can tolerate frost. They fruit well in cooler climates. They do well in medium to heavy well-drained soils. It grows in the high mountain belt in the Caucasus. It grows between 1,500-2,200 m above sea level. It is restricted in Canada and the USA because it helps spread white-pine blister-rust. They can be grown in the hills in Java. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Belarus, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, China, Czech Republic, East Africa, Estonia, Europe, Falklands, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Korea, Kosovo, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit can be eaten raw, stewed or made into jam. The unripe fruit are often used for pies and tarts.

The unripe juice contain amino acids good for health. They are sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - tea

How it is grown

They can be grown from seed. They are best grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

American gooseberry, Bektasi uzumu, Cu li, Egres, Escrebene, Fuge, Gigadze, Groseille a maquareau, Groseillier, Grosella blanca, Grosellero, Karusmari, Khurt'k'meli, Kikerberi, Kokrosheni, Kosmulja, Kryhovnik, Khurt'k'meli, Kruisbes, Maru suguri, Stachelbeere, Stikkelsbaer, Tikker, Uva spina

Synonyms

Grossularia glandulososetosa Opiz; Grossularia hirsuta Mill.; Grossularia intermedia Opiz; Grossularia pubescens Opiz; Grossularia reclinata (L.) Mill.; Grossularia spinosa (Lam.) Rupr.; Grossularia uva-crispa (L.) Mill.; Oxyacanthus uva-crispa (L.) Chevall.; Ribes caucasicum Adams ex Schult.; Ribes grossularia L.; Ribes reclinatum L. Ribes spinosum Lam.;