Plant Details

Ribes uva-crispa

Gooseberry

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Common names

46 names · 30 languages
EnglishYour language
  • European gooseberry[2]
  • Goose-berry[2]
  • Gooseberry[2]
Other languages (29)
Dutch
  • Kruisbes[2]
  • Stekelbes
French
  • Groseille à maquereau
  • Groseillier à maquereau[2]
  • Groseillier épineux[2]
Belarusian
  • Агрэст[2]
Catalan
  • Riber espinós[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • meruzalka srstka[2]
  • srstka[2]
  • srstka angrešt[2]
Danish
  • Stikkelsbær[2]
Estonian
  • euroopa karusmari[2]
  • Tikker[2]
Finnish
  • Hillokarviainen[2]
  • karviainen[2]
German
  • Stachelbeere[2]
  • Wilde Stachelbeere[1]
Hawaiian
  • Pohā, pa'ina[2]
Hungarian
  • köszméte[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • オオスグリ[2]
  • 西洋酸塊[2]
Korean
  • 서양까치밥나무[2]
Latvian
  • Nokarenā ērkšķoga[2]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastasis agrastas[2]
Norwegian
  • stikkelsbær[2]
Ojibwe
  • Zhaaboominagaawanzh[2]
Polish
  • Porzeczka agrest[2]
Portuguese
  • Groselha-espim[2]
  • Groselheira-espim[2]
Russian
  • Крыжовник обыкновенный[2]
  • Крыжовник отклонённый[2]
Slovak
  • egreš obyčajný[2]
  • ríbezľa egrešová[2]
Slovenian
Spanish
  • Grosella espinosa europea[2]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Bektaşi Üzümü[2]
Ukrainian
  • Аґрус[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ribes uva-crispa L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Wilde Stachelbeere (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 174066; taxon 4SYLV.
[2] Ribes uva-crispa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • European gooseberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Kruisbes — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Gooseberry — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Groseillier épineux — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Goose-berry — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Крыжовник обыкновенный — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Uva spina — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Groselheira-espim — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Groselha-espim — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Grosella espinosa europea — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Pohā, pa'ina — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • meruzalka srstka — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Groseillier à maquereau — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Stikkelsbær — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Stachelbeere — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Hillokarviainen — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • stikkelsbær — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Крыжовник отклонённый — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Porzeczka agrest — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • srstka angrešt — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Paprastasis agrastas — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • ríbezľa egrešová — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • krusbär — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • karviainen — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • オオスグリ — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • euroopa karusmari — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • 鹅莓 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • 鵝莓 — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • 歐洲醋栗 — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • srstka — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • 欧洲醋栗 — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Zhaaboominagaawanzh — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Агрэст — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • kosmulja — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Tikker — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Nokarenā ērkšķoga — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Аґрус — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • köszméte — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Riber espinós — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • 서양까치밥나무 — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • 西洋酸塊 — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • egreš obyčajný — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.
  • Bektaşi Üzümü — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 54429; Ribes uva-crispa.

General information

Scientific name: Ribes uva-crispa
Accepted name (Kew): Ribes uva-crispa L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Grossulariaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Ribes (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Gooseberry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.20 m
Spread: 1.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Leaves
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Cosmetic use

Description

Fruits can be eaten both raw and cooked. Often, they are harvested when they are not fully ripe and firm, with a sharp taste. At this stage, they are mainly used for making pies and jam. When the fruit remains on the plant until it is fully ripe and soft, it becomes very sweet and tastes delicious as a snack. The fruits of wild varieties are usually smaller than 1 cm in diameter, but cultivated varieties can be significantly larger, up to 3 cm in diameter. The leaves can be eaten raw, especially the young and tender leaves that are suitable for salads. However, be aware of the toxicity, as previously discussed.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 31/08

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 556306; name ID 2426003; Ribes L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 559109; name ID 2426619; Ribes uva-crispa L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ribes uva-crispa

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1146516, ID 4SYLV: Ribes uva-crispa L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. Native Plant Trust; Go Botany Ribes uva-crispa — Go Botany
    Supports: Foliage
    Relevant sections
    • Foliage: Leaf duration

    Source checked on .