Prickly Gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati)
Estimated Height at Pickup: 1-2', 3 gal
A.k.a. dogberry. A hardy native edible that enjoys part shade! Excellent for wildlife support. While prickly gooseberry does have thorns on the stems, it is named for the fleshy ‘prickles’ on the fruit. Though they look intimidating, the prickles are soft and edible. Gooseberries will runner to form colonies.
Pollination: 2+ individuals recommended.
Light: Part Sun/Shade
Soil Moisture: Mesic, Dry Mesic, Dry
Soil Type: Loam, Rocky Loam, Sandy Loam, Clay Loam
Height: 2’-4’
Width: Will runner as far as allowed.
Bloom Color: White/Green
Bloom Time: May
Fruit: Edible green berries ripen to red in the summer.
Fall Color: Red, Purple
Root Type: Branching
Notable Wildlife Interactions: Flowers attract bees, wasps, flies, and ants. Hosts the green comma, grey comma, and two brush footed butterflies, as well as numerous moths, leaf beetles, leaf hoppers, and smaller insects.
Notes: Gooseberries are edible straight off the plants, but are most often made into jams.
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