Gooseberry is a shrub or tree growing anywhere from 5-30ft in height. Small white to slightly yellow colored fruit are borne in great abundance, with a crunchy, juicy, acidic flavored pulp.
Hardiness: The Otaheite Gooseberry is tropical or subtropical and can take several degrees of frost for brief periods of time.
Growing Environment: The trees generally prefer moist soil. There are often two fruiting cycles per year and depending on the climate, trees may produce off and on throughout the year.
Propagation: By seed, which may bear in 4 years, or by budding, greenwood cuttings, and air-layering.
Uses: Often the fruit is cooked with sugar, upon which the pulp and juice turns bright red. Common uses for the resulting fruit mixture are to prepare beverages or use as a sauce.
Native Range: Native to Madagascar, but was spread long ago by humans throughout much of India, southeast Asia, and some Pacific islands.