Description
Orus 8 is a black currant and gooseberry hybrid, the same kind of cross as a jostaberry, raised in Oregon from breeding work done in the 1960s. It sits here among the gooseberries, but it is worth knowing what it is: the habit comes from the currant side, upright and strong, and the leaves from the gooseberry side.
The berries are small, round and deep purple to near black, with little noticeable seed, and they are good fresh, dried, or turned into jelly or wine. Crops are heavy once it is established. The canes do carry real thorns, so pick in sleeves and gloves.
Overview
- A black currant and gooseberry hybrid rather than a true gooseberry.
- Small deep purple-black berries, good fresh and in preserves.
- Upright, currant-like canes; heavy cropping.
- Thorny at picking; hardy and self-fertile.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Ribes x nidigrolaria ‘Orus 8’
Site and Soil: Full sun to part shade; rich, well drained soil, pH 6.0 to 7.0
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 3
Rootstock: Grown from cuttings
Bearing Age: Light crop the first year; full crops by year 3 or 4
Size at Maturity: Upright and currant-like, about 4 ft tall and 3 to 4 ft wide
Ripening Time: Mid season for a gooseberry; June into July
Pollination: Self-fertile; a single bush sets a crop
Pests & Diseases: Little powdery mildew on this hybrid; currant worm strips leaves from the inside out
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Dark berries like these do not announce ripeness the way a gooseberry does with a color change, so taste one before you pick the whole bush.
- Regional Insight: Gooseberries perform best where summers stay cool to moderate, from the Upper Midwest and New England to the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain states.
- Explore more berries in our collection: Berries
