Lonicera caerulea Honey Bee - Honeyberry

Lonicera caerulea 'Honey Bee' is a shrub honeysuckle that produces delicious blue coloured berries resembling blueberries. You can easily incorporate it into a small hedge or at the edge of your orchard to enjoy its vitamin-rich fruits in early summer. It requires a moist, acid to neutral soil.

Originally from cold regions of the Far East, from Siberia to Japan, the blue honeysuckle is a small, extremely hardy bush that can withstand temperatures below -30°C (-22 °F). Just like its climbing relations, it belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family.  The small oval leaves, arranged in an opposite manner on the branches, are a tender green shade and then turn to a slightly greyish green shade. The cinnamon brown bark becomes very decorative after a few years. In early spring, small elongated, greenish-yellow flowers appear, reminiscent of those of climbing honeysuckles but in miniature. A few weeks later, between May and July depending on the varieties, the flowers produce succulent, frosted blue berries, whose taste somewhat resembles American blueberries. These fruits are very rich in vitamins A and C, and antioxidants, and can be used fresh, in jams and in sweet preparations etc.

The 'Honey Bee' variety, obtained in Canada from Russian strains, stands out for its late and abundant harvest, between mid-June and July, which extends the period of 'Sweetberries (see other varieties). The fruits are large and cylindrical, averaging 2g or more. They are firm and have a pleasant hint of acidity. Easy to pick, they don't fall off the plant on their own. This is a very good variety for juicing. The bush is vigorous and resistant to powdery mildew. It will reach approximately 1.80m (5 ft 11 in) in height and 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) in width, and its growth is relatively fast.

Very robust, Lonicera caerulea 'Honey Bee' is quite versatile: it tolerates most soils as long as they are neither calcareous nor too dry. However, a humus-rich, and well-drained soil will promote a significant and regular harvest, with flavoursome fruits.  Plant several staggered varieties to improve cross-pollination and maximize yield over a long period (see other varieties). The young shoots are resistant to late frosts, which is an significant advantage in colder regions. You can insert it into a rural hedge, provided that the neighbouring bushes do not invade it too much as this would hinder its development and make the harvest more 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.