Gooseberry
Scientific Name: Ribes uva-crispa
Common Name: Gooseberry
Plant Family: Grossulariaceae
Etymology: The name "gooseberry" may come from a corruption of the German word "Krausberre" or from the fact that a savory-sweet sauce was made with these berries and served with goose.
Indigenous Uses
Cathartic - bark and roots used as a physic.
Edible Parts
The berries of the gooseberry plant are edible, with a tart, thick skin, and soft flesh full of edible seeds.
Gathering and Using
Gooseberries can be harvested from May to August. Fresh fruits can last 1-2 weeks in a cool place. Gooseberries are primarily used for fresh eating, baking in desserts, drying, making jams and preserves, pickling, flavoring fresh fruit drinks and sodas, making sauces, wines, and teas.
Permaculture Functions and Considerations
Gooseberry plants can provide habitat for small birds and insects with their thorny thickets of stems. The flowers of gooseberry plants are a source of nectar for insects, and hummingbirds can collect nectar from the flowers.
Habitat
Gooseberries prefer full sun but can tolerate moderate shade. They require medium moisture and can grow in a wide variety of soil and light conditions.
How to Identify
Gooseberry plants are thorny shrubs that can grow 3-5 feet high and wide. They produce large, sweet berries in shades of red, green, white, yellow, purple, and almost black.
Wildlife Support
Gooseberry plants provide habitat and nectar for insects and can support hummingbirds.
Additional Information
Gooseberries were developed in Europe and are typically considered an English fruit. They were brought to the American colonies by early settlers, but their cultivation was restricted due to their potential to spread white pine blister rust. The federal ban on gooseberries was lifted in 1966, and now the restrictions are managed state by state. Gooseberries have a tart flavor with a tropical sweet-tart taste, resembling a cross between a grape and a raspberry.