A small fruit represented by about six species of the genus Ribes of the plant order Rosales. The gooseberry is a thorny, spreading bush which grows to a height of about 3 ft (0.9 m) and produces red, yellow, or green berries (see illus.). The most desirable hardier types in the United States are of American parentage, or are hybrids between American and European species. Commercial culture has declined and is limited to a few states, notably Oregon, Michigan, and Washington, but gooseberries are found in home gardens throughout most of the United States except the far South and Southwest.