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Identify a plant. #841221

Asked July 18, 2023, 3:26 AM EDT

Are these plants gooseberries?

Denver County Colorado

Expert Response

Hi Robert,

The 3 photos you forwarded to us appear to be of the Genus Currant or Gooseberry. Without any photos showing the canes, flowers or fruit, it is hard to pinpoint which.

There are a variety of online resources that are free and available to the public that answer gardening questions and are based upon research out of University Horticulture Schools. One such resource from Colorado State University is a Fact Sheet on Currants and Gooseberries:
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/currants-gooseberries-and-jostaberries-7-005/

A second fact sheet from the U of MN states “Although closely related, you can easily distinguish currants and gooseberries by examining the canes and fruit. Gooseberry canes normally produce a spine at each leaf node and bear roughly grape-sized berries singly or in groups of two or three. Currant canes lack the spines and bear 8 to 30 pea-sized berries in clusters.” https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-currants-and-gooseberries-home-garden

Colorado Master Gardener, Denver County Replied July 18, 2023, 1:34 PM EDT

Here is additional pictures l.

The Question Asker Replied July 19, 2023, 6:03 PM EDT
Hi Robert,

The thorns on these stems are a pretty good indication that these are indeed gooseberries.
Colorado Master Gardener, Denver County Replied July 22, 2023, 1:23 PM EDT

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