Ribes menziesii

Menzie's gooseberry

Ribes menziesii

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This prickly and upright gooseberry shrub is native to California and Oregon.  It produces profusions of intricate red and white flowers that look like they are turned inside out.  If you are looking for huge yields of berries, however, I recommend a European gooseberry instead.

Gooseberries are a great choice for small fruits in the Pacific Northwest.  They thrive in sun or dappled shade and handle soil conditions all the way from heavy clay to sandy loam. They grow to about 4 feet tall and wide, sometimes larger, but respond well to pruning.  We like to plant them in between fruit trees in an orchard or forest garden, as they feed pollinators early in the season, resist deer browsing due to their spines, and fruit well in the shade even after the taller trees mature. 

The fruit ripens early to mid-summer.  They are larger and sweeter than currants, with a range of color when ripe that includes grassy green, yellow-green, gold, rosy pink, cherry red, and dark purple.