Honeyberries

Lonicera caerulea

These attractive, arching and mounding bushes grow quickly to between 2’-6' tall and wide, depending on variety. Small, creamy yellow, funnel-shaped flowers appear in February or March and develop into delicious, teardrop-shaped, light blue fruit that ripens around May. The soft and powerfully-flavored berries contain high amounts of ascorbic acid and bioactive flavonoides, and the flavor is like a tart/sweet blueberry crossed with blackberry. Wait until the inner flesh has turned purplish before picking - berries turn blue on the outside before they fully ripen, and sweeten the longer they hang on the bush.

New to America, but widely grown in Russia, Japan and Canada. Unexpectedly disease and pest resistant, too! Raintree offers both early and late-blooming cultivars that perform well in both cold climates and in the moderate Pacific Northwest. For those with spring weather that alternates between warmth and unexpected freezes, select late-blooming varieties. Plants prefer full sun in cooler summer areas, and morning sun in warmer regions, and well-draining soil. Select two different varieties, that bloom at the same time, for cross-pollination. USDA Zones 2-8.