Ribes lacustre aka Bristly Black Gooseberry

Ribes lacustre is a deciduous shrub in the family Grossulariaceae. Common names include bristly blackcurrant, swamp currant, and swamp gooseberry. Its native range runs from subarctic North America into the United States. It grows across much of Canada and parts of Alaska. Its range also reaches western and northeastern states. Wild plants grow in cold, damp woods, swamps, and wet forests.

In gardens, this shrub reaches about 5 feet (1.5 metres). Other accounts give a range of 3–6 feet (0.9–1.8 metres). Its thin stems stand upright in sun but trail in shade. Plants may grow alone or form thickets. The smooth bark has a reddish-brown tint. Young twigs bear clusters of branched spines at their nodes. More prickles may grow between these points. Older twigs lose most of this sharp armour. The leaves grow in turn along the stems. Each round leaf has three to five lobes and toothed edges. Dark green upper surfaces lack hairs, while the undersides are hairy.

Flowers open from April to May. Small, saucer-shaped blooms range from green to maroon. They hang in clusters of five to fifteen flowers. Insects pollinate the flowers, which contain both male and female organs. Dark purple berries follow, each about the size of a pea. Small glands on stalks cover their skins. Ripe berries drop free from their stalks. People eat the fruit raw, cooked, or dried. It also goes into sauces, jams, and preserves. Reports describe the taste as tart and juicy, though sometimes weak. Crushed fruit can give off an unpleasant smell.

Choose moist soil that drains well and holds some water. Loam of at least fair quality suits this plant. It also accepts sandy and clay soils. It grows in mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline ground. Sun and partial shade both suit it. Deeper shade reduces the fruit crop. It suits woodland edges and sites with dappled shade. Listed hardiness covers USDA zones 4–8, with cold tolerance near −20°C.

This shrub can host white pine blister rust. Avoid planting it near pine trees. Its spines can cause allergic skin reactions in some people. Records describe traditional remedies made from bark, roots, leaves, and twigs. These reports do not establish medical safety or benefit. People have also woven its prepared roots into rope.