{"id":80843,"key":"Lonicera_caerulea","title":"Lonicera caerulea","latest":{"id":1249452,"timestamp":"2026-05-31T12:00:09Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"This article discusses cultivation, uses and preservation of ''Lonicera caerulea'' (Honeyberry / Haskap berry), a cool temperate climate shrub with edible fruit in the honeysuckle family. It is native to boreal forests in temperate Eurasia and North America. The plant may perform moderately well as part of the shrub layer in a temperate climate [[forest garden]].\n\n== Background Information ==\n\nApproximately 180 honeysuckle species are identified. They are arching shrubs or twining vines, some are fragrant and are grown as garden ornamentals. Most have mildly poisonous berries. Other edible honeysuckles include ''Lonicera augustifolia'' (Narrow-leaf Honeysuckle) and ''Lonicera villosa'' (Mountain Fly Honeysuckle).\n\n=== Taxonomy ===\n\nFamily: Caprifoliaceae (\"honeysuckle family\")\n\nGenus: ''Lonicera''\n\nSpecies: ''L. caerulea''\n\n=== Common names ===\n\n* Honeyberry\n* Sweetberry Honeysuckle\n* Haskap (haskappu, hascap, hascup)\n* Blue-berried Honeysuckle / Blue honeysuckle\n* Honeyberry Honeysuckle\n* Deepblue Honeysuckle\n* Bluefly honeysuckle\n* Edible honeysuckle\n* Swamp fly honeysuckle\n\n=== Etymology ===\n\n''Lonicera'' after Renaissance botanist Adam Lonicer.{{W|Adam Lonicer}}\n\n''Caerulea''/''caeruleus'' dissimilation of ''caeluleus'', derived from ''caelum'' (\"sky, heaven\") + ''-uleus'' (diminutive suffix indicating small size or youth).\n\n''Haskap'' from Ainu language meaning \"little present on the end of the branch\".\n\n=== History ===\n\nThe Ainu people knew of the plant centuries ago.<ref name=\"williams2017\" /> Originally cultivated as a food crop in Siberia, northern China and northern Japan.<ref name=\"cockrallking2016\" /> Thought to have been first cultivated in Russia in the 1950s.<ref name=\"williams2017\" /> Some cultivars have been developed at the University of Saskatchewan and the commercial growing of haskap is growing in Canada.<ref name=\"cockrallking2016\">Cockrall-King, J (2016). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=527hCwAAQBAJ Food Artisans of the Okanagan: Your Guide to the Best Locally Crafted Fare.] TouchWood Editions. ISBN 9781771511537.</ref>\n\n=== Varieties ===\n\n== Characteristics ==\n\n=== Range ===\n\nThey are only found in the North. Although there are Haskaps native to North America, they are fairly rare occuring and have berries smaller than a pea. Those varieties native to Asia have larger fruit, thought to be why the Russians and the Japanese cultivated them first.<ref name=\"williams2017\" />\n\n''Native to:''\n\nAlbania, 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\n\n''Introduced into:''\n\nNorway\n\n<nowiki>[Source= Plants of the World Online]</nowiki><ref name=\"powo\">[http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:148657-1 ''Lonicera caerulea'' (Plants of the World Online).]</ref>\n\n=== Morphology ===\n\nMature height 1.2-1.5 m (5\"), spread 1.5 m (5\")<ref name=\"rhs\" /><ref name=\"crawford2016\">Crawford, M (2016). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/creating-a-forest-garden-working-with-nature-to-grow-edible-crops/oclc/1041938577 Creating a Forest Garden: working with nature to grow edible crops.] Green Books. ISBN 9781900322621.</ref>\n\nFlowers yellow - white.<ref name=\"whitefield1996\" />\n\nFruits 0.8-1.0cm long, dark blue. Thin skin.<ref name=\"cockrallking2016\" /> Unique flavor variably compared to blueberry (but more tart + acidic), raspberry, saskatoon, blackcurrant\n\n=== Growth Habit ===\n\nFast growing, deciduous shrub.<ref name=\"pemberton2019\" /> Not a climber, unlike the commonly known ornamental honeysuckles.<ref name=\"whitefield1996\" />\n\n=== Reproduction ===\n\nSelf-sterile,<ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> i.e. at least 2 cultivars needed for cross pollination and good cropping.<ref name=\"toensmeier2013\" />\n\nFlowering from late winter<ref name=\"rhs\">[https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=728 Honeyberry (Royal Horticultural Society).]</ref> to spring (March-April in UK).<ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> Flowers frost tolerant.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" />\n\nFruiting in summer (May), often the first berries to come into fruit.<ref name=\"toensmeier2013\">Toensmeier, E; Bates, J (2013). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ipA1e_EXJHoC Paradise Lot: Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre, and the Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City.] Chelsea Green Publishing. ISBN 9781603583992.</ref>\n\nLifespan approx. 25-30 years.<ref name=\"L2g\" /> New plants produce first (limited) crop in second growing season. 3-4 year old plants start cropping heavily.<ref name=\"L2g\" />\n\n== Requirements ==\n\n''L. caerulea'' grows on the edge of swamps and wetlands in the wild.<ref name=\"williams2017\">Williams, S; Bors, B (2017). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=z9skDwAAQBAJ Growing Fruit in Northern Gardens.] Coteau Books. ISBN 9781550509144.</ref>\n\n=== Hardiness ===\n\n=== Soil Type ===\n\nTolerant of most soils.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> Well-drained, organic matter rich soil is ideal.<ref name=\"rhs\" /> Semi-toleratant of wet soil conditions, but not clay.<ref name=\"L2g\" />\n\n=== Soil pH ===\n\nTolerates acidic and alkaline soil,<ref name=\"rhs\" /> from pH 4-8, ideal pH 5.5-6.5.<ref name=\"L2g\">[https://luv2garden.com/honey_berry.html Blueberry Honeysuckle How to Grow Honey Berry (Vegetable Garden Reference Center).]</ref>\n\n=== Shade Preference ===\n\nFull sun\n\n=== Shade Tolerance ===\n\nModerate shade, cropping reduced\n\n=== Aspect ===\n\n=== Exposure ===\n\nNot tolerant of high winds.<ref name=\"L2g\" /> Choose or create a sheltered site (e.g. see [[windbreaks]]).\n\n== Cultivation ==\n\nEasy to grow\n\n=== Planting ===\n\nOther sources advise Potted or bare rooted plants in winter.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> For the first few years deep water to promote healthy root system development.<ref name=\"L2g\" />\n\n=== Forest Gardening ===\n\nLike many berries, cropping is reduced in shade. In this regard, there are potentially more productive options for the shrub layer which will perform slightly better in partial shade (e.g. [[Gooseberry]], Jostaberry, currants). However, marked hardiness, early cropping, disease resistance and low maintenance are potentially useful factors. Honeyberry plants may be best positioned in relatively sunnier patches in a forest garden to perform best, and they may benefit from the wind-sheltered microclimate provided by nearby trees.\n\nOne author of a forest gardening textbook gave honeyberry a \"good\" rating (2 out of 4) to describe the plants potential to perform in a temperate forest garden.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" />\n\n=== Companion Planting ===\n\n=== Allelopathy ===\n\nHaksaps do not compete well with grass or other palnts with deeper roots.<ref name=\"williams2017\" />\n\n=== Propagation ===\n\nDifficult from seed. The tiny seeds only germinate after deep chilling (cold stratification). Put in a freezer for 3-4 months.<ref name=\"L2g\" /> Easier to buy young plants or take cuttings.\n\nSemi ripe/softwood cuttings in late summer. Hardwood cuttings in winter.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" />\n\n=== Maintenance ===\n\nLow maintenance. Annual application of balanced fertilizer.<ref name=\"rhs\" /> Over fertilization will lead to vigorous growth at the expense of flowers and fruit.<ref name=\"rhs\" /> Mulch around base of plant.\n\n=== Watering ===\n\n=== Pruning ===\n\n=== Problems ===\n\nGenerally resistant to pests and disesases.<ref name=\"pemberton2019\">Pemberton, T; Gearing, D; Marsh, C; (2019). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/edible-shrubs/oclc/1088729543 Edible Shrubs.] Plants for a Future. ISBN 9781791954949.</ref>\n\n* '''Birds:''' some species will damage the buds, others will eat the crop. Consider using nets or cages to keep birds off.<ref name=\"L2g\" />\n\n== Harvest ==\n\nHarvest when berries darken and soften.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> Darkening starts from skin and goes towards center of fruit meaning they can be blue on the outside before they are fully ripe, tasting bitter. Wait until berries are deep purple - red on the inside.<ref name=\"L2g\" />\n\t\nStores for about 1 week.\n\nApprox. 2.3-2.7kg (5-7 lbs) per mature plant.<ref name=\"L2g\" />\n\n== Preservation ==\n\n* Freezing\n\n== Uses ==\n\nBerries can be eaten raw.\n\n* Jams\n* Jellies\n* Fruit leather\n\nSecondary uses:\n\n* [[Bee-friendly plants|Bee plant]] (like most honeysuckles).<ref name=\"L2g\" />\n\n== Cooking ==\n\nGenerally speaking, can substitute for blueberry in recipes, e.g. in pies or crumbles.<ref name=\"whitefield1996\">Whitefield, P (1996). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3rd3e69BnC8C How to make a Forest Garden.] Permanent Publications. ISBN 9781856230087</ref> Seeds are very small, so no need to sieve.\n\n''Add recipes or links here''\n\n== Nutritional Values ==\n\n* High in antioxidants (3x higher than blueberries).\n* High in Vitamin C\n* High in calcium\n\n== References ==\n\n<references />\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n}}\n\n[[Category:Berries]]"}