Ribes curvatum aka Granite Gooseberry

Ribes curvatum, or granite gooseberry, is a small deciduous shrub. It belongs to the gooseberry family, Grossulariaceae. Its native range spans the central and southeastern United States. Records include Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee. It also grows in northern Alabama and northern Georgia. Northwestern Louisiana forms another part of its range. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. This is a plant of temperate climates.

The shrub reaches about 3.3 feet [1 metre] in height. It sheds its leaves rather than keeping them year-round. Its small size suits the edge of a woodland garden. A sunny edge or a site with dappled shade can work. Plants For A Future describes it as an ornamental shrub. It can also supply fruit for the kitchen. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers.

The fruit has a tart taste and can be eaten fresh. Cooking offers another way to use the crop. Each fruit measures about 0.025 feet [0.0075 metres] across. Plants For A Future gives its food value three out of five. That source lists no known hazards for the species. It records no medicinal uses or other uses beyond food. This does not establish the safety of every plant part.

Grow granite gooseberry in moist soil that drains well. A loam of at least fair quality suits it well. It also accepts sandy soil and clay. Mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils all suit it. It can grow in sun or partial shade. Shade is tolerated, but it reduces the fruit crop. Plants For A Future describes the shrub as easy to grow. It lists USDA zones 6–9 and cold tolerance near −20°C. The plant can host a stage of white pine blister rust. Avoid growing it near pine trees for that reason.

Seed and cuttings offer ways to raise new plants. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame when ripe in autumn. Stored seed needs four to five months of cold treatment. Keep that seed between −2°C and 0°C during treatment. Grow seedlings in separate pots once large enough to handle. Keep them in a cold frame through their first winter. Plant them out in late spring the next year. Half-ripe cuttings can be taken in July or August.