Ribes lacustre

Common Names

Swamp Currant, Swamp Gooseberry, Bristly Black Gooseberry, Prickly Currant, Prickly Blackcurrant, Marsh Currant, Black Gooseberry, Spiny Swamp Gooseberry, Lake Gooseberry, Bristly Currant, Gadellier Lacustre

Summary

Native to North America, this deciduous shrub grows in cool, moist habitats such as moist woods, swamps, and streambanks. It reaches about 1–2 m tall with erect to spreading stems densely armed with slender prickles at leaf nodes; leaves are palmately lobed (3–5 lobes) with a maple-like shape; flowers appear in pendulous racemes; fruit is a dark purple to black, bristly berry.

Growing this shrub favors cool, moist climates and moist, well-drained loamy soil and is hardy to USDA zones 4–8; it tolerates partial shade, though fruiting declines in shade. Propagation is by seed or cuttings, with seeds requiring cold stratification for germination. Uses include edible berries (raw or cooked) and jams and wildlife habitat; caution: an alternate host for white pine blister rust, and historical eradication attempts were unsuccessful.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-8

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun to Full Shade, including Partial Sun and Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil; avoid waterlogged conditions.

Soil pH

No specific ideal pH, tolerates acidic to basic soils.

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow, Yellowish-Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Rhizomes

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, hummingbirds, and birds are attracted