Black Velvet, Gooseberry (Thorny)
A new variety, Black Velvet was selected for its mildew and disease resistance and its delicious, high quality fruit. These gooseberries are a dark purple color, quite large and sweet with a flavor that is sort of like a cross between blueberries and grapes! With a flavor like that you'll want lots and lots of fruit, so thankfully Black Velvet tends to be a prolific producer even in very cold places. The fruit tends to hang on the branches for quite a long time getting sweeter and sweeter until finally picked. This variety is a vigorous grower and has a very upright growing habit tending to mature at about 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide and is also thorny. Very cold hardy to USDA zone 3.
Self-fertile but some say it will produce even more if planted near a different variety of gooseberry.