Lonicera caerulea Boreal Beauty - Honeyberry

Lonicera caerulea 'Boreal Beauty' is a shrub honeysuckle that produces delicious blue coloured berries reminiscent of blueberries. Upright and productive, it can easily be incorporated into a small hedge or planted along the edge of your orchard to enjoy its vitamin-rich fruits in early summer. It prefers a moist, acidic to neutral soil.

Originally from the cold regions of the Far East, from Siberia to Japan, the blue honeysuckle is an extremely hardy small shrub that can withstand temperatures below -30°C (-22 °F).  Just like its climbing realtives, it belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family. The small oval leaves, arranged in an opposite pattern on the branches, start off as tender green and then turn slightly grey-green. The cinnamon-brown bark becomes highly decorative after a few years. In early spring, elongated green-yellowish flowers appear, resembling those of the climbing honeysuckles but in miniature. A few weeks later, between May and July, the flowers give way to succulent blue berries with a powdery bloom, tasting somewhat like American blueberries. These fruits are very rich in vitamins B and C, as well as antioxidants, and can be used fresh, in jams, and in sweet preparations...

The 'Boreal Beauty' variety, bred in Canada in 2018, stands out for its late harvest, taking place between late June and July, which extends the "Sweetberry" season (see other varieties). The fruits are quite elongated, medium to large in size, and weigh on average between 2 and 3.5 g.  They are firm and very easy to pick as they do not fall off the plant by themselves. The bush is upright, vigorous, and resistant to powdery mildew. It reaches a height of about 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) and a width of 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in), with relatively fast growth.

Very robust, Lonicera caerulea 'Boreal Beauty' is undemanding: it can tolerate most soils as long as they are neither chalky nor too dry. However, a humus-rich, and well-draining soil will promote a significant and regular harvest, as well as high-quality fruits. Planting several staggered varieties will improve cross-pollination and maximize yield over a long period (see other varieties). The young shoots are highly resistant to late frosts, which is an advantageous when planting in cold climates. You can incorporate it into a rustic hedge, provided that neighbouring shrubs do not invade it too muc as this would hinder its development and make harvesting difficult. It also grows very well in pots.  The annual addition of compost will prove beneficial for this plant, whether planted in the ground or in a pot.