How to Identify Currant Berries
You can eat currant berries plain, by themselves. Some people also like to cook them into preserves or jellies, or use them as a topping on ice cream or pancakes. According to the University of Wyoming, the correct harvest time for currant berries varies, depending on temperatures, rainfall and elevation. In general, plan to pick currant berries in the late summer. To positively identify currant berries, examine the characteristics of the bush.
Examine the bush. Currant bushes can grow up to 5 feet high and about that wide. If the plant is a currant bush, it should appear to be a “clump” of many different stems.
- You can eat currant berries plain, by themselves.
Check the leaves of the bush. Currant bushes have alternately-spaced leaves (they are not opposite each other on the stem). The leaves should appear similar to that of a maple. They are lobed, with toothed edges. The black currant bush has pale green-colored leaves while the red currant bush has a deeper greenish-bluish shade.
Examine the flowers of the bush. Currant bushes flower in the spring. Currant bush flowers are bell-shaped and yellowish-whitish. They grow in a row, alternately-spaced.
- Check the leaves of the bush.
- Currant bushes have alternately-spaced leaves (they are not opposite each other on the stem).
Check the bush for currant berries if you have positively identified the shrub as being a currant bush. Unripe currant berries are green, whether they are black or red. The berries grow in a cluster, or a chain. Red currants are a reddish color and tend to ripen all at once. Black currants are a darker purplish-brownish color and tend to ripen from the top downward.
Identify Black Currant Berries
Measure the size of the fruit. At the end of the fruit opposite the stem, there is typically a bit of dried brown plant material from the flower. Count the number of berries in the cluster. Black currants have at least 12 berries per cluster and rarely are there more than 20. Each cluster measures 5 to 6 inches in length. Determine if the berries are growing on new or old stems. Clusters of black currants hang from the bush on wood that is from one to three years old. Measure the height of the plant to make sure it corresponds to the size of black currant shrubs. Leaves are light green in color and have 3 to 5 lobes with rounded tips.
- Check the bush for currant berries if you have positively identified the shrub as being a currant bush.
- Measure the height of the plant to make sure it corresponds to the size of black currant shrubs.
Related Articles
References
- California Rare Fruit Growers: Currants
- Environmental Education for Kids: American Black Currant
- University of Wyoming: Preserving Wyoming's Wild Berrries and Fruit
- National Gardening Association: Currants and Gooseberries
- Purdue University: Currant
- Mark's Fruit Crops: Currant and Gooseberry
- National Gardening Association: Jostaberry
Resources
Writer Bio
Catherine Chase is a professional writer specializing in history and health topics. Chase also covers finance, home improvement and gardening topics. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in American studies from Skidmore College.
