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Prickly gooseberry

Ribes cynosbati
Edible value5Medicinal value2
Shrub1.5×3 mzone 2–6partial shade

Will it grow where I live?

Prickly gooseberry is hardy to zone 2 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 2 upwards. It needs real winter cold and struggles in the mildest sites (zone 8 and warmer).

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family
Grossulariaceae
Habit
Shrub
Height
1.5 m
Spread
3 m
Growth
medium
Lifespan
20 years
First yield
after 2 years
Hardiness
zone 2–6
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Soil
Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture
semi-dry – very moist
pH
5.5 – 7

Flowering & harvest

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Flowering

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible5 of 10
Medicinal2 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Prickly gooseberry: how big does it get?

Prickly gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati) grows as a Shrub and reaches roughly 1.5 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 3 m. Growth is medium.

Prickly gooseberry: what site does it need?

Prickly gooseberry tolerates partial shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.

Prickly gooseberry: is it hardy?

Prickly gooseberry is listed as hardy in zone 2–6 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Prickly gooseberry: will it grow in Central Europe?

Prickly gooseberry is hardy to zone 2 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 2 upwards. It needs real winter cold and struggles in the mildest sites (zone 8 and warmer).

Prickly gooseberry: when does it flower?

In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers in April.

Prickly gooseberry: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Prickly gooseberry. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Prickly gooseberry: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 5/10, Medicinal 2/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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