Honeyberry - Lonicera caerulea - €13 per plant  
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Lonicera caerulea, commonly known by a variety of common names including blue honeysuckle, sweetberry honeysuckle, and haskap, is a multi-branched, deciduous shrub that produces berries sometimes as early as the beginning of June. The health benefits of sweetberry honeysuckle have been well known for centuries in their native countries and are an excellent source of vitamin C. Best grown in organically-rich, moist but well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Makes a good candidate for a hedge or in a fruit garden.  To order this plant please contact us [email protected]. 
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Context

  • native region: Canada, Japan, Russia, and Poland - countries in the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere 
  • ​native habitat:Low ground
  • family: Caprifoliaceae

Predators

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  • No serious disease or insect problems.


Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full sun
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9
  • Prefers well drained soils but is generally more tolerant of wet conditions than most fruit species
  • Tolerates a wide range of soil types

Overview


  • Deciduous Shrub growing to 2m by 2m. 
  • In flower from April - May, and the seeds ripen from June - July. 
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant is not self-fertile.
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. 
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. 
  • Needs full sun, but partial shade is appreciated if grown in a very hot climate
  • Different to other relatives of honeysuckle in that it produces an edible, tasty, blueberry-like fruit

Characteristics

  • form: medium sized shrub
  • layer : Shrub Layer
  • habit: compact, multi branched 
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Products 

  • Fruit: One of the first berries to ripen in the garden and a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants. Somewhat angular in shape. Best cooked and eaten in jams or preserves where the taste is quite delicious, although can also be eaten raw.
  • Flowers: Pale yellowish-white flowers that form in pairs along the shoots and attract a lot of attention from insects
  • Leaves: Green-grey in colour, slightly stiff to the touch

Functions, behaviours

  • Shrubs are unisexual and should be planted in pairs or groups in order for pollination and fruit set to occur.
  • Thrives if well mulched
  •  Attractive to birds
  • Pretty winter hardy
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project