Gooseberry: Ribes spp
Amish Red
Zone
• 3
Ripens
🍒
• mid
Color
• red-pink skin
Growth
• thorny
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery mildew. At least somewhat resistant to leaf spot.
Black Velvet
Ribes divaricatum hybrid
Zone
• 3
Ripens
🍒
• mid (mid-late)
• hangs well when ripe
• hangs well when ripe
Color
• dark purple skin
Growth
• thorny, up to 8ft tall
Fruit
• tart, strong flavor
• penny-size
• penny-size
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery mildew. Somewhat resistant to leaf spot.
The flavor of Black Velvet is quite strong and reminiscent of concord grapes. The skin is high in acid while the flesh is more moderate. Overall, it is likely the most acidic variety when fully ripe.
controversy: some consider the berries to be too tart for fresh eating.
Captivator
American x European hybrid. Developed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (1935).
Zone
• 3a
Ripens
🍒
• mid
Color
• burgundy skin
Growth
• few thorns
Fruit
• moderate to moderately-low in acidity
• fairly thick skin, can be somewhat firm and crunchy
• quarter-size, may have a raindrop shape
• fairly thick skin, can be somewhat firm and crunchy
• quarter-size, may have a raindrop shape
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery mildew.
Contradicting reports on leaf spot susceptibility.
Contradicting reports on leaf spot susceptibility.
The ripe fruit barely latches on to the plant.
Colossal
Originated in Mankato, Minnesota (1974).
Zone
• 3
Fruit
• 1.5" berries
Afflictions
• Somewhat susceptible to powdery mildew.
Friend
Originated in Ukraine.
Zone
• 3
Color
• burgundy skin
Growth
• thornless
Afflictions
• Susceptible to leaf spot.
Glenndale
R. missouriense x R. grossularia. Developed in Little Silver, New Jersey (1932).
Zone
• 3
Growth
• 6 to 8ft tall
Afflictions
• Probably resistant to leaf spot and powdery mildew.
Glenndale was bred to tolerate a more southern location or, more specifically, the northern part of the Cfa climate in the US.
Hinnonmaki Red
Originated in Finland.
Alias
• Lepaan Punainen, Lepaa Red
Zone
• 2? (3)
Ripens
🍒
• early-mid?
Color
• burgundy skin
Growth
• thorny
Fruit
• sweet-tart
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery mildew. At least somewhat resistant to leaf spot.
Hinnonmaki Red and Lepaa Red may have originally been the same variety in the US, but I am not sure if they still are or if one of them is mislabeled. They do share at least a few similar qualities, such as their burgundy skin and resistance to mildew.
In Finland, where the variety was developed, they are referred to as Lepaan Punainen.
Hinnonmaki Yellow
European x American hybrid. Originated in Finland.
Zone
• 3
Ripens
🍒
• mid
Color
• green skin (yellow in sunlight)
Growth
• dwarf, thorny
Fruit
• nickel-size
• the flesh is moderate to moderately-low in acidity
• the skin is moderate to moderately-high in acid
• the flesh is moderate to moderately-low in acidity
• the skin is moderate to moderately-high in acid
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust. Somewhat resistant to powdery mildew and leaf spot.
Nurseries often claim the flavor of Hinnonmaki Yellow is reminiscent of apricot, but I have not seen any home-growers confirm this. I have not experienced this either.
The bush is quite dwarfing, to the point where it looks unusual sitting next to the others. It may pair well with Jewel and Jeanne, since they, too, are considered to be small. The bush is also quite thorny, which doesn't pair well with its dwarfing habit. It will essentially force you to keep the bush well pruned.
Houghton
R. grossularia x R. hirtellum. Originated in Lynn, Massachusetts (1833).
Zone
• 3
Ripens
🍒
• mid
Color
• burgundy skin
Afflictions
• Houghton may have less resistance to powdery mildew than most hybrid varieties.
The leaves turn purple in the fall, and they often have a red or burgundy outline.
Jeanne
unknown American x European parentage. Introduced in Corvallis, Oregon (2006).
Zone
• 3
Blooms
💮
• late
Ripens
🍒
• mid-late
Color
• burgundy skin
Growth
• dwarf (3ft tall)
Fruit
• sweet or sweet-tart
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust, powdery mildew, and leaf spot.
Jewel
Originated in Poland.
Zone
• 3
Color
• burgundy skin (possibly peach)
Growth
• dwarf
Jewel is shown to have peach skin by one major nursery, but it may be burgundy when the berries are fully ripe in most climates.
Oregon Champion
Crown Bob x Houghton. Originated in Salem, Oregon (1876).
Zone
• 3
Color
• green-yellow skin
Growth
• thorny, 5ft tall
Fruit
• tart
Afflictions
• Somewhat susceptible to powdery mildew.
Pixwell
R. missouriense x Oregon Champion. Originated in North Dakota (1932).
Zone
• 3
Ripens
🍒
• early-mid
Color
• dark purple skin when fully ripe
• leaves may turn burgundy prior to fall
• leaves may turn burgundy prior to fall
Growth
• thorny
• the fruit have a long stem
• the fruit have a long stem
Fruit
• penny-size
• moderately-low in acidity
• moderately-low in acidity
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery mildew. Somewhat resistant to leaf spot.
Some people seem to harvest Pixwell when they are still tart and green-pink in color, and I am under the impression that, when grown near its southern limit, they may remain green-pink when fully ripe.
Controversy: when they are fully ripe, some do not like their fairly low level of acidity and claim the texture is somewhat mealy. When harvested too early, they can be fairly acidic and lack flavor. Personally, they are one of my favorites, and I like them when they are fully ripe.
Poorman
Houghton x Downing. Selected in Brigham City, Utah (1890).
Zone
• 3
Ripens
🍒
• mid
• hangs well when ripe
• hangs well when ripe
Color
• burgundy skin
Growth
• thorny
Fruit
• sweet
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery mildew. Somewhat resistant to leaf spot.
Poorman may suffer from low productivity for a few additional years. The berries can become quite sweet and low in acid if they are left to hang on the bush long enough.
Red George
Originated in Ukraine.
Zone
• 3
Color
• dark burgundy skin
Growth
• thorny
Afflictions
• Resistant to powdery mildew. Somewhat resistant to leaf spot.
Sabine
Spinefree x Clark. Originated in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Zone
• 3
Color
• burgundy skin
Growth
• few thorns
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery mildew. At least somewhat resistant to leaf spot.
Tixia
Invicta x LS 9-31-54. Introduced in Switzerland (1990).
Zone
• 3
Color
• burgundy skin
Growth
• few thorns
Afflictions
• Resistant to powdery mildew.
Susceptible to white pine blister rust?
Susceptible to white pine blister rust?
Welcome
Originated in Minnesota (1957).
Zone
• 2? (3)
Color
• burgundy skin
Growth
• few thorns
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery mildew.
Canadian Gooseberry: Ribes oxyacanthoides
Jahn's Prairie
Selected in Alberta, Canada (1984).
Zone
• 3
Ripens
🍒
• mid?
Color
• burgundy skin
Growth
• few thorns, 5ft tall
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery mildew.
Contradicting reports on leaf spot susceptibility.
Contradicting reports on leaf spot susceptibility.
European Gooseberry: Ribes grossularia
Early Sulphur
Originated in Britain.
Zone
• 3
Color
• yellow skin
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust.
Susceptible to powdery mildew.
Susceptible to powdery mildew.
Greenfinch
Careless x (Whinham's Industry x Resistenta). Originated in East Malling, England (1967).
Zone
• 3
Color
• green-yellow skin
Growth
• thorny, fairly compact, erect habit
Fruit
• smaller than Invicta
Yield
• highly productive
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery mildew.
More resistant to leaf spot than Invicta, but I haven't seen any reports on its performance in the United States.
More resistant to leaf spot than Invicta, but I haven't seen any reports on its performance in the United States.
The spines on Greenfinch are less prominent than those on Invicta.
Invicta
Resistenta x Whinham's Industry. Originated in East Malling, England (1967).
Zone
• 3
Ripens
🍒
• early
• the berries easily fall when ripe
• the berries easily fall when ripe
Color
• green-yellow skin
Growth
• very thorny
Fruit
• quarter-size
• moderately-high to moderately-low in acid
• the acid primarily resides in the skin
• moderately-high to moderately-low in acid
• the acid primarily resides in the skin
Yield
• highly productive
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery mildew.
Susceptible to leaf spot.
Susceptible to leaf spot.
Some Invicta berries have a strong kiwi flavor, but this may be the result of slight damage, oftentimes from its own thorns.
controversy: reports about Invicta are unusually variable.
Leveller
Developed in England (1851).
Zone
• 3
Color
• yellow skin
Afflictions
• Susceptible to powdery mildew.
Speedwell
Zone
• 3
Color
• red-green skin
Growth
• thorny
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust.
Somewhat susceptible to powdery mildew?
Somewhat susceptible to powdery mildew?
The berries of Speedwell may end up being much redder than what is displayed in the photo.
Whinham's Industry
Originated in Britain.
Zone
• 3
Color
• burgundy skin
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust.
Susceptible to powdery mildew.
Susceptible to powdery mildew.
Whitesmith
Originated in England (1824).
Zone
• 3
Color
• green skin
Yield
• highly productive
Afflictions
• Resistant to white pine blister rust.
Susceptible to powdery mildew.
Susceptible to powdery mildew.