Laurifolium Currant / Gooseberry (Ribes laurifolium)

Family: Grossulariaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Ribes laurifolium is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1.5 m (5ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower from February to April, and the seeds ripen from October to December. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). .

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Berries

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. A blackcurrant. The purple fruit can be up to 20mm long and 10mm wide. It can be hairy (in subspecies laurifolium ) or smooth (subspecies yunnanense ). — Fruit - raw or cooked.; The purple fruit can be up to 20mm long and 10mm wide.; It can be hairy (in subspecies laurifolium ) or smooth (subspecies yunnanense ).

Habitat & North American Range

Often found climbing into trees in forests, on slopes, river banks and rocks at elevations of 2100 - 3600 metres. (Zone 8)