Leveller is a celebrated English dessert gooseberry, first raised in the 1880s and long considered one of the finest-flavored varieties for fresh eating. It bears large, oval, yellow-green berries with an exceptionally sweet, rich flavor that has made it a perennial favorite among exhibition growers and connoisseurs. The bush is moderately vigorous but can be somewhat particular, cropping best on fertile, well-drained soil, and it is more prone to mildew than modern resistant cultivars. Despite this, its outstanding dessert quality keeps it in demand for home gardens and heritage collections. In permaculture plantings, Leveller rewards a sheltered, sunny spot and good soil with berries of superb sweetness, prized both for dessert and for high-quality preserves.
Flavor Profile
Rich, sweet, and full-flavored; regarded as one of the best gooseberries for fresh dessert eating.
Visual Characteristics
Large, oval, yellow-green berries with a slightly downy skin on a moderately vigorous bush.
Growing Tips
Give it fertile, well-drained soil and a sheltered sunny site. Watch for mildew and prune to keep the center open.
Resistance Information
Disease Resistance
Susceptible to American gooseberry mildew.
Where to Buy
Sourcing information coming soon. Check local nurseries and seed banks for availability.