Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica Kiev - Honeyberry

Lonicera kamtschatica 'Kiev' is a bush honeysuckle appreciated for its edible fruits. In May-June it produces elongated, blue berries with a sweet and slightly acidic flavour reminiscent of blueberries and sometimes even kiwi. They can be consumed fresh as well as in jam or jelly. This bush is very cold-resistant, to -40°C. It enjoys sun or partial shade and moist, well-drained soils, ideally non-alkaline. Plant it in pairs to promote cross-pollination.

From the caprifoliaceae family, Lonicera kamtschatica, or May berry, is native to Siberia where its edible fruits have been consumed by the indigenous people for a long time. Mentioned for the first time at the end of the 17th century by a Russian explorer named Vladimir Atlasov, it was cultivated in the northern regions of Russia under the advice of Peter Kuzmisev in the early 19th century. Lonicera kamtschatica 'Kiev' stands out for its high productivity. Its foliage is deciduous. Its bluish-green leaves are tough. Its discreet flowering occurs in March-April. The flowers are tubular at the base and grow in groups of two. They are cream-coloured, slightly fragrant, and attract pollinating insects. They can withstand frost to -7 °C.
The flowers, although hermaphroditic, are weakly self-fertile. Therefore, plant at least two plants to promote good pollination (mainly ensured by bumblebees and bees) and good fruiting. Opt for the 'Morena' variety, semi-early, or 'Duet'.

In late spring, harvest its numerous blue and waxy, elongated, about 1 cm long and 0.5 cm in diameter fruits, weighing about 1g. You can consume them fresh, like blueberries, or transform them into jams, jellies, or even fruit juice. The cooked fruit takes on a mahogany red colour.