Hello,

There are three wild berry-producing bushes that can grow in our area: currants, gooseberries and jostaberries. All three can grow in moist soil to about the same size and produce dark colored berries.

Here’s a brief description of each:

      Currant bushes are generally thornless. Berries are small, round, and smooth and generally borne in long clusters. 

Gooseberries bushes have spines on their canes.  Berries resemble grapes in size and shape.  They are produced in small groups or singly on stems. Often, a wilted flower is attached to the end of the fruit throughout the season.

Jostaberries bushes are thornless.   The fruits are typically medium to dark purple, larger than currants and the size and appearance of a gooseberry. Jostaberry is a hybrid between the black currant and gooseberry.  

So, from your photos, I do not see thorns (thorns would indicate gooseberry).  Jostaberries and Black Currants are very similar in appearance.  However, the berries in the photos look more like Black Currant because they look round and smooth.

If you would like a definitive identification, a sample may be submitted to the Jefferson County Plant Clinic.  Please use the following guidelines:

• Collect a fresh sample. Identification is difficult to impossible with dead or dried plants.
• Collect samples the same day drop off. Don’t leave samples in vehicles overnight. Intense heat or cold will destroy the sample.
• Collect a 12-24 inch long branch with leaves and berries attached.
• Provide a detailed history of the plant and site.
• There is a nominal fee for Jefferson County residents.
• Bring the sample to:

Jefferson County Plant Diagnostic Clinic

15200 West 6th Avenue, Unit C

Golden, CO 80401-6588

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Although, the photos do not resemble any of our poisonous plants in Colorado, I would be hesitant to recommend ingesting the berries without a definitive identification.   

Below are some articles that you may find interesting.  Thank you for your inquiry.

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/currants-gooseberries-and-jostaberries-7-005/

https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/438/438-107/438-107.html#L5