Honeyberries, also called Haskaps, are hardy medium-sized shrubs that produce delicious, nutrient-dense blue berries. We offer two late-blooming varieties bred for sweetness, larger fruit size, and reliable cross-pollination compatibility: “Beauty” and “Beast.”

NOTE: Both varieties are required to set fruit and need a minimum of ~1,000 chill hours.

Edible Uses

Honeyberries are similar in color and taste to blueberries, with a tart-sweet balance and hints of raspberry or elderberry [1][2]. They can be used fresh or processed into pastries, jams, juices, sauces, ice creams, yogurts, candies, and even wine [3].

Nutritionally, honeyberries are a powerhouse: they contain high amounts of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), polyphenolic flavonoids, and anthocyanin antioxidants—often higher than in blueberries [2][4]. These compounds support immune health, circulation, and cellular protection.

Between our two cultivars, “Beauty” tends to have slightly larger berries, while “Beast” is equally firm and flavorful. Both are excellent choices for fresh eating or preservation.

Ornamental Qualities

Honeyberries are attractive, long-lived shrubs with oval green leaves and clusters of small, trumpet-shaped white flowers [1][5]. Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, followed by elongated blue berries. In winter, bare branches often show a reddish tinge.

Honeyberries are ideal for edible landscapes—they can live and bear fruit for 50+ years under good care [2]. Plant them alongside huckleberries, thimbleberries, or currants for a productive and diverse food forest planting.

Environment and Culture

Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea) is circumpolar in range, native to boreal forests of North America, Russia, and Japan [1]. Wild plants are often found in moist, organic soils of peat bogs, river valleys, and mountain terrain [6].

The cultivars “Beauty” and “Beast” come from mixed Japanese, Russian, and Kurile heritage, bred for flavor, cold-hardiness, and pollination compatibility. These shrubs thrive in cold climates, tolerating winter lows down to –47 °C (–53 °F) [2].

Honeyberries require at least two different varieties for pollination; “Beauty” and “Beast” are excellent companions. For balanced yields, plant at least one “Beast” for every 2–3 “Beauties.”

Northwest Native American tribes continue to value honeyberries as food, medicine, and family [7]. Despite cultural losses, they continue to work towards stewarding and restoring wild populations, both strengthening the integrity of the ecology and sustaining their cultural heritage and wisdom. These strong and recovering peoples and plants deserve our respect, gratitude, and reparations.

Harvest, Care, and Preparation

Both “Beauty” and “Beast” flower and ripen later than many honeyberry varieties, blooming March–April and ripening June–July in the Northwest [2]. Fruit set may vary with climate and pollinator activity.

Honeyberries are less finicky than blueberries, tolerating a wider soil range, though they perform best in well-drained soils rich in organic matter [1]. Protect young plants from hot southern sun exposure, especially in warmer zones.

• Watering: Regular irrigation during establishment (1–2 years) is essential; summer watering increases yields.

• Mulching & Pruning: Annual mulching with organic matter and periodic thinning keeps shrubs healthy and productive.

• Birds: Birds love the fruit—netting may be necessary to secure your harvest.

Harvest berries when fully blue and slightly soft. Use fresh, or freeze, dry, or preserve them. Their unique flavor makes exceptional jams, syrups, wines, and desserts.

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Attributes

• Native Range: Circumpolar (AK, BC, Russia, Japan)

• USDA Zones: 2–9 (requires irrigation in upper zones)

• Ease of Care: Easy

• Deer Resistance: Moderate (some browsing possible)

• Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade

• Soil Type: Prefers well-drained, organic soils

• Water Requirements: Moist; water during establishment (1–2 years)

• Pollination: Requires two varieties; plant at least one “Beauty” and one “Beast”

• Bearing Age: 1–2 years

• Size at Maturity: 4–6 ft

• Plant Spacing: ~6 ft

• Bloom Time: February–April (late March in Zone 8)

• Harvest Time: June–July (varies by climate and variety)

References

[1] Bors, B. “Growing Haskap in Canada.” University of Saskatchewan, 2015.
[2] Thompson, M. “Introduction to Haskap.” Oregon State University Extension, 2017.
[3] Plekhanova, M. N. “Blue Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) – A New Commercial Berry Crop.” Acta Horticulturae, 2000.
[4] Jurikova, T. et al. “Nutritional and Biological Value of Haskap Berries (Lonicera caerulea L.): A Review.” Journal of Functional Foods, 2012.
[5] Dirr, M. A. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Stipes Publishing, 2009.
[6] USDA NRCS. Plant Guide: Lonicera caerulea. plants.usda.gov.
[7] Turner, N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples. UBC Press, 1995.

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