Jostaberry
Ribes × nidigrolaria
A thornless black currant and gooseberry cross; tough and productive.
Hardiness: zones 3 to 8
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 6 ft tall, 6 ft wide
Harvest: July
From: Germany
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Hardy in zones 3 to 8.
The story
Jostaberry was bred in Germany in the 20th century from black currant and gooseberry, taking the gooseberry's size and the currant's flavour and leaving behind the thorns and the mildew; it is a plant that solves problems.
Planting
Full sun or part shade, moist drained soil. Plant bare-root in winter, 6 feet apart; self-fertile, vigorous, thornless.
Growing
Mulch, water in dry spells, and prune in winter to keep an open bush of younger wood. It grows faster than either parent.
Harvest and use
Berries ripen black in early summer; pick when fully coloured. Sweet-tart; jam, pies, fresh eating.
What to watch for
Birds; little else, which is the point of it.
See if Jostaberry fits your yard
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More berries and small fruit
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home