Gooseberry? (LINK)

What do you think? (Another Link)

Steve

Looks like gooseberry to me as well.

Thanks guys! Maybe so - that link to the drawing of it you sent, digit, sure looks similar. Is gooseberry a Colorado native plant? I'm wondering because I'm now seeing a few smallish plants of this in different locations in my yard, and none that I started. I actually thought the plant I took a picture of was something else that I had planted a couple of seasons ago, but when I saw similar plants growing elsewhere decided this is a volunteer instead of what I had purposely planted (and obviously didn't make it).

If it's gooseberry, think I'll keep it as the berries sound delightful. I have not seen any thorns on this plant, but have read that they get them. Unless there's another variety that doesn't?

There are some bushes at my office that look similar to these leaves as well. I've never noticed any berries on them, let alone thorns. But wondering if they are these instead:

I stopped by O'Tooles with a cutting off of it, and they said they thought it was a currant. Guess gooseberries and currants are closely related. Since this one doesn't have thorns, maybe they are right.

Now the debate is - should I keep it? If it's a wild variety, will the fruit be as good?

Marj

There are gold, red, black currants. Blossoms are usually small yellow. However there is also Alpine currant which is used in landscaping that has no berries. Some of my black currants sucker a lot. 1 that doesn't? Anyhow they are ripening. Wish I could get someone to dig up 10 or so. Last year they did't get picked so the birds & bugs got them. Currant cobbler, jelly and currant nectarine jelly. Just wish they were easier to clean.

So I decided to relocate this possible currant plant to another area of the yard. In case it's the non-berry kind, and also it really didn't fit the flower bed it was in. I'll keep a watch on it and hopefully post back as to what type it turns out to be!

Marj

So it finally has gotten small black berries, so it's a currant! So just to be sure - the berries are definitely ok to eat?!

I have Ribes areum (golden current) growing all over the place here. I don't think it's native to the plains, more the foothills/mountains, but someone planted some and now it spreads all over. There's even a subspecies that only grows in Roxborough State Park (at least that's what someone told me when I worked there).

If it is R. areum, and it definitely looks like it is, then yes the berries are edible. Not that I've ever gotten to try one, the birds pick the bushes pretty well clean well before I can get to them.

We grow red currants for jam, and the birds don’t usually bother to eat the berries. I love the tartness of the berry, but it is a pain to pick, clean, and process them. They have a large(r) seed. Someday - I hope to start the black variety.

We have one. It doesn't spread. We brought another one to the swap last year. I like the yellow flowers in the spring. They have a lovely scent.