Honeyberry
Lonicera caerulea 'Berry Smart Blue'
fruitBerry Smart Blue is a partly self-fertile honeyberry (haskap) producing elongated navy-blue berries that look like elongated blueberries but ripen 2 weeks earlier than strawberries. The flavor is unique: a blend of blueberry, raspberry, and a hint of kiwi or blackberry, intensely sweet-tart and aromatic. The cold-hardy shrub (hardy to minus 50F) is one of the most beginner-friendly fruits for northern gardens.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Harvest
~18 months
to first harvest
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
4-6 ft apart
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Planting Depth
Same depth as nursery container
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Soil pH
5.5-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Average
Hardiness Zones
Zones 2 – 7
When to Fertilize
Light feed in early spring
Fertilizer
Compost; 10-10-10 only if growth is weak
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant in full sun to partial shade on well-drained soil with organic matter. Honeyberry is hardy to USDA zones 1 to 8. Like most haskaps, Berry Smart Blue needs a second compatible variety blooming in the same window for good fruit set; even where sold as self-fertile it crops far more reliably with a partner. Set 4 to 6 ft apart. The shrubs grow 4 to 6 ft tall and wide. First fruit in year 2; full production by year 4. Mulch heavily; honeyberries have shallow roots.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
May 25 · Year 3
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
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OOct
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DDec
Year 1
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Comfrey — Mineral-mining mulch returns potassium
- White Clover — Living mulch in the aisles fixes nitrogen
- Strawberries — Ground cover that shares the same cool conditions
- Yarrow — Attracts beneficial parasitic wasps
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Net plants as berries blush; the early ripening makes haskap one of the first fruit available to hungry birds in spring
Space for airflow; honeyberry is generally disease-resistant
Blast with water; encourage ladybugs and lacewings
Iron phosphate bait around young plants
🌾 Harvest & storage
Berry Smart Blue ripens in late spring (May or June, depending on climate) - 2 weeks earlier than strawberries and the very first homegrown fruit of the year. The blue color appears before full ripeness; wait an extra 5 to 7 days after color appears for the inside to ripen too (immature berries are bitter). Pick gently; ripe haskap fall easily into a cupped hand. Use fresh, freeze whole, or make jam (sets beautifully with the natural pectin).
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
About 50 calories per 100 g with 4 g fiber, 28 mg vitamin C, and one of the highest anthocyanin levels of any commercial berry. Honeyberries supply more anthocyanins per gram than blueberries, with studies in Japan and Eastern Europe linking the fruit to anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.