# mountain gooseberry (*Ribes montigenum*)

Mountain gooseberry is a small, bushy plant that grows in the mountains. It has bright green leaves and produces tasty, tangy berries that many animals love to eat!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mountain regions

![mountain gooseberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ribes_montigenum_2.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ribes_montigenum_2.jpg)

## Appearance

The mountain gooseberry is a thorny shrub with reddish-brown branches and small, bright green, deeply lobed leaves. Its delicate, tubular flowers are often reddish or pinkish, hanging in clusters. The berries ripen to a vibrant red-orange, covered in stiff bristles.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Saxifragales
- **Family:** Grossulariaceae
- **Genus:** Ribes

## Interesting facts

- Each berry can contain many small seeds, helping it spread to new mountain spots.
- Gooseberry plants belong to the same family as currants, but gooseberries have thorns!
- Its tiny, bell-shaped flowers can be a beautiful mix of red, pink, and orange!
- Native Americans have long gathered these tart berries for food and even made jam.

## Special abilities

- **Spiny Armor:** Mountain gooseberry has sharp spines on its branches that help it defend against hungry deer and other animals wanting to munch on its leaves.
- **High Altitude Survivor:** This plant can grow in rocky, thin soils at high mountain elevations where many other plants struggle, thanks to its tough root system.
- **Berry Feast:** It produces juicy, bright red berries that are a vital food source, helping various birds and mammals get energy in harsh mountain environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-200 cm
- **Spread:** 50-200 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — Feasts on ripe berries for energy.
- **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Consumes berries, helping disperse seeds.
- **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumble Bee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses leaves and twigs (despite spines).

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
- [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before trying to eat any berries you find in nature.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify mountain gooseberry?

Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is mountain gooseberry?

50-200 cm

### How wide does mountain gooseberry spread?

50-200 cm

### How big are the flowers on mountain gooseberry?

0.5-1 cm

### When does mountain gooseberry bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is mountain gooseberry edible?

Yes

### Is mountain gooseberry toxic?

None

### What is mountain gooseberry's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Cedar Breaks National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-breaks-national-monument) — Utah, US · National Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Mountain Gooseberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mountain-gooseberry)