Whitestem Gooseberry
Whitestem Gooseberry - Ribes inerme - Perennial
Delicious black gooseberries on bending, branching stems. Yes, there are spikes! Luckily, the fruit hangs below the stem and you can harvest them and avoid the spines. I find this in half shade of a mixed forest. Also along banks, road cuts and open meadows. It's a really cool looking plant and the black berries are just beautiful. Much sweeter than you expect!
The bark on the woody stems is a grayish white, very good-looking. The drooping white-to-pink tubular flowers line the stems in spring. The berries are smooth, round, reddish purple to black. Before they are completely ripe, you can see the gooseberry stripes.
Sow seeds in fall or early winter or cold moist stratify for 30 days. Cover seed 1/4" with soil. Seed comes in the dried berry, you can break it apart or plant the whole berry.
Small batch - Limited Quantity