Template:Italic title This article discusses cultivation, uses and preservation of Lonicera caerulea, a cool climate shrub with edible fruit in the honeysuckle family. The plant may perform moderately well as part of the shrub layer in a temperate climate forest garden.
Background Information
Taxonomy
Family: Caprifoliaceae ("honeysuckle family")
Genus: Lonicera
Species: L. caerulea
Common names
- Honeyberry
- Sweetberry Honeysuckle
- Haskap (haskappu, hascap, hascup)
- Blue-berried Honeysuckle / Blue honeysuckle
- Deepblue Honeysuckle
- Bluefly honeysuckle
Etymology
Haskap -- from Ainu language meaning "little present on the end of the branch".
History
Varieties
Characteristics
Range
Native to:
Albania, Amur, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Chita, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Korea, Kuril Is., Magadan, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Primorye, Romania, Sakhalin, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia
Introduced into:
Norway
[Source= Plants of the World Online][1]
Morphology
Mature height 1.5 m (5"), spread 1.5 m (5")[2]
Fruits 0.8-1.0cm long, dark blue.
Growth Habit
Fast growing, deciduous shrub.[3]
Reproduction
At least 2 plants needed for good cropping.
Flowering from spring (March-April in UK).[2] Flowers frost tolerant.[2]
Fruiting in summer.
Requirements
Hardiness
Soil Type
Tolerant of most soils.[2]
Soil pH
Shade Preference
Full sun
Shade Tolerance
Moderate shade, cropping reduced
Aspect
Exposure
Cultivation
Easy to grow
Planting
Potted or bare rooted plants in winter.[2]
Forest Gardening
Companion Planting
Allelopathy
Propagation
Maintenance
Watering
Pruning
Problems
Resistant to pests and disesases[3]
Harvest
Harvest when berries darken and soften.[2]
Stores for about 1 week.
Preservation
- Freezing
Uses
Berries can be eaten raw.[3] Seeds are very small, so no need to seive.
- Jams
- Jellies
- Fruit leather
Secondary uses:
- Bee plant (like most honeysuckles)
Cooking
‘’Add recipes or links here’’
Nutritional Values
- High in antioxidants (3x higher than blueberries).
- High in Vitamin C
- High in calcium