Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

prickly currant Grossulariaceae Ribes lacustre (Pers.) Poir. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: RILA
Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous, palmately lobed (3 to 5 lobes), round in outline, 1 to 1 1/2 inch, serrated; dark green above but not glandular or hairy; underside is hairy; resembling small maple leaves.
Flower: Species is monoecious; small and saucer-shaped; green to maroon; occur in drooping clusters of 5 to 15 flowers.
Fruit: Dark purple, pea-sized berries covered with stalked glands; edible but taste is commonly weak; fall free from stalk when ripe.
Twig: Young twigs are heavily armed at nodes with multi-parted spines; prickles often occur between the nodes; older twigs mostly unarmed.
Bark: Reddish-brown, smooth.
Form: Spiny, spindly deciduous shrub 3-6’ tall; erect in sun or trailing in shade. May grow alone or in thickets.
 Looks like: mountain gooseberry - spreading gooseberry - trailing black currant - snow gooseberry

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Additional Range Information: Ribes lacustre is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information