The shrub Ribes lacustre is known by the common names prickly currant, black swamp gooseberry, and black gooseberry. It is widely distributed in North America.

Description

The shrub grows erect to spreading, .5–2 m. Clusters of reddish to maroon flowers bloom from April through August. Racemes of 5 to 15 pink disk-shaped flowers hang from stems covered with short hairs, bristles and spines. The fruit consists of dark purple berries 6–8 mm long.

Distribution and habitat

It is widely distributed, from California to Alaska and across North America east to Pennsylvania and Newfoundland, and south as far as New Mexico. It may be found in low-elevation forests and swamps all the way up to the subalpine. Outside its native range, Ribes species may be invasive. Ribes is considered to be an extremely hardy species, capable of tolerating a wide range of soil types and conditions; as evidenced by its wide distribution.