Ribes uva-crispa

RHS Plant Profile

gooseberry

Other common names

catberry, English gooseberry, European gooseberry, feaberry, thape

Synonyms

Ribes grossularia

Fruit Edible Shrubs

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A bushy, woody plant with thorny stems and deeply lobed green leaves. Small insignificant yellow-green flowers are produced in spring followed by oval fruit which ripen in mid-summer and can be green, yellow, pink or red when mature. The species has many named cultivars - some are ideal for preserving or pies and jams, whilst others are sweeter and can be eaten straight from the bush. Some cultivars show good resistance to disease.

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Grossulariaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Ribes can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes spiny, with simple, usually palmately lobed leaves and small tubular or bell-shaped, solitary or racemose flowers borne in spring or summer, followed by juicy, sometimes edible berries
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe, N Africa, SW Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow gooseberries in a moist but well-drained soil that has been improved with organic matter. Mildly alkaline (chalky) soils are tolerated. Fruiting is best in full sun, but they will tolerate partial shade. They can be grown as goblet-shaped bushes or trained forms such as cordons. Water well as fruits swell and keep the base of the plants weed and grass-free. For more advice see gooseberry cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by hardwood cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Edible fruit

Pruning

Prune gooseberries in winter and summer

Pests

May be susceptible to gooseberry sawfly, birds and squirrels

Diseases

May be susceptible to gooseberry mildew and gooseberry leaf spot