Ribes x culverwellii Jostaberry PFAF Plant Database

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Ribes x culverwellii - Macfarl.

Common Name

Jostaberry

Family

Grossulariaceae

Synonyms

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Not known in the wild.

Range

A range of garden hybrids.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Ribes x culverwellii is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.8 m (6ft).
It is hardy to zone 6. It is in leaf 10-Apr It is in flower from Apr to May, and the seeds ripen from Aug to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, self.The plant is self-fertile.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit. Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked in pies, jams etc[200]. Intermediate in size and flavour between gooseberries and blackcurrants, tasting more like a gooseberry when under-ripe and more like a blackcurrant when fully ripe[K]. The fruit is rich in vitamin C[183].

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. None known

Other Uses
None known

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality[11, 200]. Best grown on a deep sandy loam[1]. 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[1]. Quite tolerant of shade though not fruiting so well in such a position[11]. 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[200].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months cold stratification at between 0 and 5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[113, 164]. Under normal storage conditions the seed can remain viable for 17 years or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring of the following year. This plant is a cultivar and will not breed true from seed. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 - 15cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[78, 113]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, November to February in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors[78, 200].

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Expert comment

Author
Macfarl.

Botanical References
11200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11]Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.

A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[78]Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.

A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[113]Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.

A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[164]Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4.

Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.

[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Readers comment

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Subject : Ribes x culverwellii

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