Ribes x culverwellii

Macfarl.

Jostaberry

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Summary

A deciduous shrub reaching 1.8 m, with hermaphrodite flowers pollinated by bees and self-fertile. Blooms April to May with seeds ripening August to September. Leaves present April to October. Hardy to UK zone 6. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils with good drainage. Tolerates mildly acidic to basic soil pH. Can thrive in semi-shade or full sun and prefers moist soil.

Description

A shrub. It grows 1.5 m high and spreads 1.5 m wide. The leaves are hairy and have 3-5 lobes. The fruit are downy and in clusters. They are red-black and seedless.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked in pies, jams, and similar preparations. It is intermediate in size and flavour between gooseberries and blackcurrants, tasting more like a gooseberry when underripe and shifting toward a blackcurrant flavour as it fully ripens. The fruit is rich in vitamin C.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are used for jam, juice, preserves, syrups and cordial.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The fruit is rich in vitamin C.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.

Where It Grows

Australia, Europe, Lithuania, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality. Best grown on a deep sandy loam. Dislikes very heavy clay, chalky soils and thin dry soils, but it can succeed on most soil types if plenty of organic matter is incorporated. Quite tolerant of shade though not fruiting so well in such a position. A group of cultivars of hybrid origin, basically a cross between blackcurrants and gooseberries. Very vigorous plants, producing prolific crops of fruit. They are being grown increasingly in gardens. In general they resist American gooseberry mildew, blackcurrant leaf spot and gall mite. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months of cold stratification at 0–5°C and should be sown as early in the year as possible. Under normal storage conditions seed remains viable for 17 years or more. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, grow on in a cold frame through their first winter, and plant out in late spring the following year. Note that this is a cultivar and will not breed true from seed. Take cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10–15cm with a heel, in July or August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood from the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, can be taken from November to February in a cold frame or sheltered outdoor bed.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 150 Ribes species.

Synonyms

A cross between Ribes nigrum x Ribes uva-crispa

References (6)

Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1206
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 120
Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A., and Seberg, O. 2007, Flowering Plant Families of the World. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. p 160
Jackes, D. A., 2007, Edible Forest Gardens
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

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