Jostaberry

Ribes x nidigrolaria

BLACK CURRANT-GOOSEBERRY HYBRIDS ARE PROHIBITED TO DE, ME, NC, NJ, WV, VA, MI, MA, OH & RI. Rust resistant varieties may be shipped to OH & MI (with Permit)

A complex cross between European black currant and N. Am. & Euro wild gooseberries, (pronounced yust-a-berry). jostaberries have the vigorous growth habit, the high vitamin C content, and the disease resistance of the black currant. However, the leaves are gooseberry-like and the seedless fruit, until it is ripe, looks like a gooseberry. As it ripens in late June, the oval berry turns almost black. The flavor is sweet like a ripe gooseberry with just a pleasing hint of the stronger currant flavor.

It is early to leaf out each spring, thornless and easy-to-grow; resistant to both powdery mildew and white pine blister rust. It fruits on older wood, so keep the many young shoots on established branches cut short once the bush gets to the size and shape you prefer.  Productive in both sun and shade, it will perform better with some afternoon shade in hotter summer areas. Cold hardy to USDA Zone 3.