Ribes burejense

Ribes burejense, or Bureja gooseberry, belongs to the Grossulariaceae family. It is a small shrub that sheds its leaves. Kew places its native range in the Russian Far East, China, and North Korea. Plants For A Future also lists Mongolia within its range. It grows in temperate parts of Asia. Its wild sites include mountain conifer forests, slopes, and stream banks.

The shrub reaches about 3.3 feet [1 metre] in height. It flowers in April, and insects pollinate the blooms. Each flower has both male and female organs. Seeds ripen between July and October. The fruit measures about 0.4 inches [0.01 metres] across. Birds eat it, but uneaten fruit may remain until November. This gives the shrub value as a fruit plant near woodland.

The fruit is edible fresh or cooked. It has a tart taste that remains pleasant to eat. Fruit left on the shrub late into autumn develops a blackcurrant-like flavour. Plants For A Future gives its food value four out of five. That source lists no known hazards for the species. It also records no known medicinal uses or other uses. This does not establish safety for every person or pet.

Grow it in moist soil that drains well. Loam of at least fair quality suits it well. It can also grow in sandy or clay soils. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. Choose sun or partial shade for planting. Shade is tolerated, but it reduces the fruit crop. A sunny woodland edge or a spot with dappled shade suits it. Plants For A Future describes it as easy to grow. It lists USDA zones 4–8 and cold tolerance near −20°C. Avoid planting near pines, since it can host white pine blister rust.

Raise new plants from seed or stem cuttings. Sow fresh seed in autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed needs three months of cold treatment at 2–5°C. Keep young seedlings in a cold frame through their first winter. Plant them out in late spring the next year. Take half-ripe cuttings in July or August. Mature wood cuttings offer another route from November to February. Plants For A Future does not flag this species as weedy.