Blue Velvet Honeyberry™
Blue Velvet Honeyberry™ is distinguished by its compact, spreading form, attractive grayish-green, velvety foliage and its very large, sweet-tart and flavorful, medium-blue berries.
A very hardy and unique small shrub, Blue Velvet™ Honeyberry is a species of Honeysuckle with sweet and tasty fruit. Native to Eastern Siberia, the Russian Far East, and Northern Japan, Honeyberry is valued for its tasty, blueberry-like fruit, its extremely early ripening, often two weeks before strawberries, and its exceptional hardiness, to minus 40 degrees F., or below. Great for fresh eating, juicing, and preserves.
Latin Name: Lonicera caerulea var. edulis
Site and Soil: Honeyberry likes 1/2 day to full sun in the Pacific Northwest and other cool regions, partial shade in hot regions, and well-drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Two varieties with similar bloom time are needed for cross-pollination.
Hardiness: Honeyberry is hardy to minus 40° F.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting.
Size at Maturity: 2-3 ft. in height
Bloom Time: March
Ripening Time: June
Yield: 5-10 lbs.
Pests & Diseases: To deter birds, use mylar flash tape or cover plants with netting. Powdery mildew is common fungal disease that affects Honeyberry plants, but doesn’t cause significant damage.
USDA Zone: 3
Sunset Western Zone: A1-A3; 1-3
Sunset Northeast Zone: 31-45