Honeyberry Kamtschatica

Grown for its delicious, sweet berries, Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub with a bushy habit. The small leaves are bluish-green and aromatic. Small white flowers appear in pairs in very early spring, and are followed in July and August by elongated, blue berries which have a white bloom when fully ripe; the ripe flesh is wine-red, both sweet and tangy. The berries are extremely rich in Vitamins C and A and anti-oxidants, and freeze well. From Siberia, so very cold-tolerant, and very easy to grow. Honeyberry Kamtschatica is a good nectar source for pollinators early in the year, but hand-pollination may be necessary.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Almost any soil, well-drained preferred
Position: Full sun
Pick: Late July–early August
Keep: Berries do not keep, but freeze well
Pollination: Self-fertile, but crops better with a different Honeyberry pollination partner
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: to 6’ (1.8m) Spread: to 5’ (1.5m)
Use: Eating fresh, cooking, preserves