Worcesterberry (Woosterberry) – Bare-Rooted
$20.00
Gooseberry × Blackcurrant Hybrid | Hardy & Productive
You will receive one rooted stem. These can only be shipped bare rooted over the dormant season (which saves shipping). Other times of year they are shipped in a pot. Please plant as soon as you receive it.
Grow Your Own Vigorous Worcesterberry
Add a rare and highly productive hybrid berry to your garden with bare-rooted Worcesterberry (also known as Woosterberry). This cross between a gooseberry and blackcurrant produces large, dark purple-black berries with a rich, sweet-tart flavour.
The plants are vigorous, upright, and generally have few or no thorns, making harvesting easy. Worcesterberry is known for its heavy cropping, good disease resistance, and reliability in New Zealand conditions.
Perfect for home orchards, fruit cages, or mixed edible gardens.
A difficult to find delicious fruit.
Why Grow Worcesterberry?
- Heavy cropping and very productive
- Large, attractive dark berries
- Few thorns — much easier to pick than gooseberries
- Hardy, tough, and disease resistant
- Tolerates a wide range of soils and conditions
- Perennial — productive for many years
- Great for New Zealand gardens
Bare Root Advantage: Sold as single-stem dormant plants over winter. Much cheaper and lighter to post than potted plants. Easy to plant and establish quickly in spring.
Note: These are single-stem bare-root plants. They will develop into full multi-stem bushes over time.
In stock
Description
Culinary & Health Benefits
- Culinary: Excellent for fresh eating, jams, jellies, cordials, pies, crumbles, and wine making. The berries have a well-balanced flavour — sweeter than many gooseberries with the depth of blackcurrants.
- Nutritional: High in vitamin C, antioxidants, and fibre. A nutritious addition to your home harvests.
- Traditional Value: Hybrid berries like Worcesterberry were developed for reliable, high-yielding home and commercial growing.
How to Grow Bare-Rooted Worcesterberry
Planting:
- Plant bare-root plants in winter (June–August) while dormant.
- Soak roots in water for 1–2 hours before planting.
- Dig a hole wide enough for the roots. Plant at the same depth as the soil mark on the stem.
- Space plants 1–1.2 metres (3–4 ft) apart.
- Water well and mulch generously after planting.
Soil & Care:
- Prefers fertile, well-drained soil with added compost.
- Full sun to light shade.
- Water regularly during dry periods, especially in the first year.
- Prune in winter to remove old wood and encourage strong new growth.
Growth & Harvest:
- Height: 1.2–1.8 metres (4–6 ft)
- Fruiting: Summer (large dark berries)
- Harvest when berries are fully ripe and sweet.
- Very cold hardy and reliable in most NZ climates.
