Canadian Gooseberry

Scientific name

Ribes oxyacanthoides

Description

The Canadian Gooseberry is a small, deciduous shrub species that can grow up to 1.5 m in height. This plant may also be known by the common names: Northern Gooseberry, Wild Gooseberry, or Henderson’s Currant. The branches are erect, reddish brown, and covered in prickles. The leaves are alternately arranged, have 3-5 lobes, with toothed margins. The flowers are small, tubular or bell shaped, are whitish green to pinkish purple in colour, and can occur singly or in small clusters. These flowers produce smooth round berries, which are reddish purple in colour and edible for humans. The fruit and flowers of Canadian Gooseberry are beneficial to many wildlife species, like birds, and pollinator species, like hummingbirds and butterflies.

Planting conditions

Canadian Gooseberry grows best in wet or moist soil with full or partial sun exposure. This shrub is shade tolerant but may produce less flowers and fruit. It can grow in a variety of soil types with a normal pH level. This plant can be naturally found in forests, forest edges, wet grasslands, prairies, the bottom of slopes/ditches, and along river or lake shorelines.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 1.5m
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Normal
  • Moist
  • Wet
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
  • Shade
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Clay
• pH:
  • Acidic
  • Basic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
• Eco Zone:
  • 1a
  • 1b
  • 2a
  • 2b
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
• Plant type:
  • Shrub
• Height:
  • 1.5 m
• Spread:
  • 1 m