Gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa)
Flowers: Blossoms in spring, berries in midsummer Height: 150cm (60in).
During the reign of Edward I, gooseberry bushes costing 3 old pence were planted at the Tower of London by the royal gardener in 1275.
Medicinal: Used to aid appetite, quench the thirst and calm swellings. The young leaves were used to treat kidney and bladder stones. Plague sufferers were advised to eat gooseberries.
Culinary: Gooseberries were a very popular ingredient particularly when turned into gooseberry wine or made into a type of juice to sharpen meat stews or marinades and green pickles. Gooseberry fool is a classic dish that can be traced back to Elizabethan times.
Magic & Myth: Often planted around monasteries as believed to overcome witchcraft.
