Borealis Honeyberry

Lonicera caerulea var. edulis 'Borealis'

Plant Details:

Plant Type: Shrub
Plant Family: Caprifoliaceae
Plant Description: This winter-hardy, fruit-bearing plant provides an excellent alternative to growing blueberries. Fragrant, white flowers in early spring are followed by an abundance of elongated, sweet, deep purple-blue berries. This plant has an upright growth habit and tends to be dense with foliage. In order to develop fruit, it needs to be cross-pollinated with another honeyberry. The Aurora or Polar Jewel cultivars are good options. Fruit begins developing one to two years after planting.

Maintenance:

Maintenance Type: Shrub - Thinning
Plant Care: Shrub - Thinning (woody multi-stemmed plants that lose their leaves every winter and look best on older stems): Prune dead, diseased, or rubbing branches. Pruning is best done in late winter to early spring for most shrubs. With spring blooming shrubs, prune after the blooms are spent. Remove up to 1/3rd of the overall shrub, keeping older branches to build up a sturdy, permanent and picturesque framework. Keep in mind that these shrubs bloom directly on older wood or on shoots that come off old wood. Monitor for pests, diseases, or other ailments on a regular basis.

Plant Attributes:

Mature Size: 3-8' tall and wide
Utah Native: No
Plant Select: No
Pollinator Friendly: Yes
Localscapes: Foundation Plant, Perimeter Plant
Foliage Interest: No
Foliage Colors: Green
Bloom Colors: White
Bloom Seasons: Early Spring
Bloom Period: Mar - Apr

Growing Conditions:

Hardiness Zone: 2 to 8
Light Requirement: Full Sun (6+ hrs sun), Part Shade (4-6 hrs morning sun), Part Sun (4-6 hrs afternoon sun)
Irrigation Requirement:     Moderate (1/2" every 7-10 days)
Salt Tolerant: Unknown
Deer Resistant: Yes

Garden Location:

  • Neighborhood Landscapes
    • Harvest Haven
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter