Wild Currant & Gooseberry
Ribes oxyacanthoides
saskwes-minahtik(Cree)
Alberta is home to several native currants and gooseberries. The Northern Gooseberry (R. oxyacanthoides) is one of the most common — a thorny shrub bearing small translucent green-pink berries. Wild currants were a critical food for virtually all Alberta First Nations and Métis peoples — eaten fresh, dried into pemmican, or boiled into preserves. Today they make excellent jelly, wine, and pies.
Quick Facts
Distribution
Province-wide, Zone 2
Light
Part shade, moist
Bloom Time
July–Aug (harvest)
Soil
Moist well-drained; tolerates a wide range including rocky slopes
Water
Moderate
Growing & Cultivation
Propagation
Hardwood cuttings taken in late fall (20 cm long, with 3–4 nodes) stuck deep in moist soil over winter root readily in spring. Layering of low branches also works. Seed requires 90–120 days cold stratification.
Pruning / Splitting
Remove oldest canes every 3 years to renew the plant
Always verify plant identification with multiple sources before consuming any wild plant. This information is for educational purposes only.
