Leaf
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Gooseberry
Ribes uva-crispa L.
Family: Grossulariaceae
0.8 to 1.5 m tall
Hedgerows, light woodland, often cultivated
Flowering: March – April
Full sun
Part shade
Very hardy, to -20°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Branches armed with spines at the nodes — which sets it clearly apart from the thornless redcurrant. Redcurrant has no spines and its fruits are small and red, in pendent racemes, whereas gooseberry has spiny branches and larger fruits, solitary or in pairs.
🍃 Leaves
Small, palmate, 3 to 5 rounded lobes
🌸 Flowers
Small, greenish, inconspicuous, solitary or in 2-3s
🍎 Fruits
Large veined berries, green, yellow or reddish, hairy or smooth
🪵 Bark
Grey-brown, branches with spines at the nodes
🗺️ Distribution
Europe, North Africa, western Asia; cultivated throughout France, also wild at cool woodland edges.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Small inconspicuous but nectar-bearing flowers, visited by bees from early spring.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Grown in the fruit garden for its gooseberries.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity; fruits edible.
⚠️ Look-alike species
Gooseberry
Ribes uva-crispa
Redcurrant
Ribes rubrum
Redcurrant has no spines and its fruits are small and red, in pendent racemes, whereas gooseberry has spiny branches and larger fruits, solitary or in pairs.
🌿 Other Grossulariaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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