For a delicious berry loaded with antioxidants that does not need acidic soil, grow cold hardy honeyberries. They belong to the honeysuckle family and produce dark blue fruits that taste like candy. Also known as haskap or blue honeysuckle, this plant is native to many regions of the Northern Hemisphere including Europe, Russia, Asia and North America. The botanical name is Lonicera caerulea. Most cultivars available today were developed in Russia and Japan.
I planted two honeyberry shrubs several years ago and love how easy they are to grow. By early summer, they provide me with several bowls of delicious dark blue honeyberries. Everyone asks me what they are when they see their small yellow blooms in April or the fruit later in the season.
How Honeyberries Taste and Ways to Use Them
Jason and Lucie Amundsen, owners of a pick-your-own honeyberry farm in northern Minnesota, say honeyberries “taste like a blueberry had a baby with a package of candy like SweeTARTS.” That is a wonderful description. Honeyberries can be tart when eaten fresh, but they blend beautifully with other fruits and ingredients.
Here are some popular ways to use honeyberries in your kitchen:
- Mix them with other berries such as strawberries or raspberries for a colorful fruit salad
- Use as an ice cream topping for a sweet and tangy dessert
- Blend into smoothies for a nutrient packed breakfast drink
- Cook down into homemade jam or jelly preserves
- Bake into muffins, pies, or cobblers just like blueberries
- Dry them for a chewy snack similar to dried cranberries
Generally, whenever you might reach for a handful of blueberries, you can reach for honeyberries instead. They work in almost any recipe that calls for tart berries and they add a unique flavor profile that guests will find intriguing.
According to botanical references, Lonicera caerulea is a fruit bearing species of honeysuckle that has been cultivated for centuries in Eastern Europe and Japan. The Japanese name haskap means “berry of long life and good vision,” reflecting its traditional reputation as a health food.
Growing Conditions and Site Preparation
Honeyberries are remarkably cold hardy. They thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 6, and some varieties will survive in Zone 2. This makes them an excellent choice for northern gardeners who struggle to grow less cold tolerant fruits. Unlike blueberries, honeyberries do not require acidic soil, which simplifies site preparation considerably.
Before planting, prepare your site with these steps in mind:
- Choose a location that receives full sun for most of the day
- Ensure the soil stays moist but has good drainage
- Test your soil pH (honeyberries accept a wider range than blueberries)
- Remove weeds and grass from a 3 foot diameter area around each planting spot
- Work organic matter such as compost into the soil before planting
- Plan for enough space since some honeyberries grow six to eight feet tall and five feet wide
Gardeners who understand composting for gardeners will find that adding well rotted compost at planting time gives honeyberries a strong start. The organic matter helps retain moisture and provides slow release nutrients throughout the growing season.
Pollination Requirements and Planting Guide
One of the most important things to know about honeyberries is that they do not self-pollinate. You need to plant at least two different varieties to ensure good fruit production. The Amundsens recommend choosing two varieties that bloom around the same time for optimal cross-pollination from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Most online nurseries will list which varieties grow well together. Here is a comparison table of popular honeyberry varieties:
| Variety | Origin | Flavor Notes | Best Pollinator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | Poland | Sweet and tart, reportedly tastes like pop rocks candy | Borealis or Tundra |
| Borealis | Russia/Canada | Very sweet, one of the sweetest varieties | Aurora or Tundra |
| Tundra | Russia | Sweeter than many varieties, consistent producer | Borealis or Aurora |
| Honey Bee | Poland | Sweet and tart, good for fresh eating | Borealis |
You can buy honeyberries as bare root cuttings or container-grown plants. For best results, plant them as soon as you get them at the same depth they were growing in their container. Keep them well watered until the plants become established. Add a layer of mulch around the base to prevent the soil from drying out too quickly, just as you might mulch around ornamental shrubs like hebe in your landscape.
Space your plants at least four to six feet apart in a row. This spacing allows enough room for the shrubs to reach their full size without competing for light and nutrients. Proper spacing also improves air circulation, which helps prevent disease.
Pruning, Fertilizing, and Ongoing Care
Most honeyberries do not require pruning in the first four to five years after planting. They produce fruit on one-year-old wood, which means the buds for next year berries were already set the previous growing season. Compared to other fruit plants with more demanding pruning requirements for honeyberries are minimal. Here is a simple maintenance schedule:
Spring Care
- Apply a balanced fertilizer if plants appear to be struggling
- Add a fresh layer of mulch to retain moisture
- Check for any winter damage and remove broken branches
Summer Care
- Water deeply during dry spells to keep soil consistently moist
- Monitor for pests such as birds and spotted wing drosophila
- Harvest fruit as it ripens in early summer
Dormant Season Care
- Lightly prune to remove broken or crossing stems
- For older plants, prune some older branches to encourage new growth
- Thin out crowded canes to allow more sunlight into the shrub
- Clean up fallen leaves to prevent disease carryover
How much you need to fertilize depends on your soil nutrient level. You may not need to fertilize at all if your soil is already rich. If you are concerned your honeyberries are not thriving, apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring following the label instructions. Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilizers because they encourage leaf growth at the expense of fruit production.
Managing Pests and Diseases
Honeyberries are relatively pest resistant, which is one of their great advantages. However, a few problems can occur. Birds may eat the fruit before you can pick it. On their farm, the Amundsens invite people to fly drones and model planes above their fields to keep away cedar waxwing birds. In a home garden, try using fine netting over your shrubs when the fruit begins to ripen.
For insect pests, watch for the spotted wing drosophila, a type of vinegar fly introduced from Asia. This pest can lay eggs in ripening fruit. Good garden hygiene and prompt harvesting help reduce its impact. The same weed control strategies from landscape professionals that keep your garden tidy also reduce hiding places for pests.
Late in summer, some honeyberry plants may develop powdery mildew. This fungal disease appears as a white coating on leaves. You can control it by:
- Ensuring good air circulation around the plants through proper spacing
- Pruning to open up the center of the shrub
- Cleaning up dropped leaves in the fall to remove fungal spores
- Avoiding overhead watering that keeps foliage wet
A well maintained honeyberry shrub with good airflow rarely suffers from serious disease problems. A copper trellis garden project near your honeyberry patch can provide visual structure while you wait for the shrubs to reach their full size.
Harvesting, Storage, and Variety Selection
Pick your honeyberries when they come off easily from the stem. For larger shrubs, place a tarp underneath and gently shake the plant. Ripe honeyberries will readily fall onto the tarp, making harvest quick and efficient. This method works especially well if you have multiple shrubs and want to harvest in bulk. Check your shrubs daily during peak ripening season because the fruit does not stay on the bush long once it is ready.
Eat honeyberries fresh or keep them in the refrigerator for a few days. If you still have some left after enjoying them fresh, clean them and freeze them just like blueberries. Frozen honeyberries retain their flavor well and can be used throughout the winter months in baking and cooking.
Honeyberries are available from many online nurseries. Some favorite varieties at Lola Farms include those listed in the table above. Demand for honeyberries has grown steadily as more gardeners discover their ease of cultivation and unique flavor. Nurseries often sell out quickly, especially in spring, so order early in the season.
Whether you are an experienced gardener looking for something new or a beginner wanting a low maintenance fruit plant, honeyberries deserve a place in your yard. They are easy to grow, cold hardy, and produce delicious fruit that tastes unlike anything else. With proper planning for pollination and basic care, you can enjoy bowls of honeyberries every summer with minimal effort.