Blue Forest™ Haskap (Honeyberry)

Blue Forest™ is a low-growing, spreading haskap distinguished by its large, deep-green foliage and abundant crops of large, dark-blue berries with a pleasing sweet-tart taste. Though it is a late-blooming haskap, its fruit ripen as early as late May. Growing 3 feet tall, with a low, spreading habit, Blue Forest™ is smaller than most haskaps, making it easy to incorporate into your garden or food forest. 

Haskaps, also known as honeyberries or blue honeysuckle, are exceptionally cold-hardy, deciduous fruiting shrubs native to northern regions of Asia, Europe and North America. They are among the first berries to ripen each year, often producing ripe fruit before strawberries. The elongated, deep-blue berries have a distinctive sweet-tart flavour often compared to blueberries, with notes of raspberry, blackberry or grape depending on the variety. They are particularly rich in anthocyanins and other antioxidants, as well as vitamin C and other nutrients.

Haskaps are long-lived (30-50+ years) and perform best in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. They are extremely winter hardy and relatively trouble-free, with few serious pest or disease problems. 

Haskap berries are delicious eaten fresh and also freeze exceptionally well. Their rich colour and sweet-tart flavour make them excellent for jams, jellies, pies, sauces, smoothies, baking, juice and wine.

Common names: Blue Forest™ Haskap, Blue Forest™ Honeyberry, Blue Honeysuckle, Fly Honeysuckle, Sweetberry Honeysuckle, Blue-Berried Honeysuckle 

Edible: Fruit
Harvest timing: May-June

Scientific name: Lonicera caerulea var. edulis 'Magadan' (aka Blue Forest™)
Light requirements: Part sun (benefits from afternoon shade in hotter regions as leaves are prone to sun scorch, especially in later summer)
Full-grown size: 3' tall x 2-3' wide (spreading growth habit)
Hardiness: Zone 2
Pollination: Requires cross-pollination with a different variety of late blooming haskap, such as Blue Hokkaido™ or Blue Pagoda™.
Wildlife: Flowers attract early spring pollinators and fruit attracts birds (similar to blueberries).
Origin: Species native to northern regions of Asia, Europe and North America. Cultivar from the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry in Vladivostok, Russia, in 1968.
Noteworthy: Very cold hardy. Haskap berries are exceptionally rich in anthocyanins and other antioxidants, often containing higher levels than blueberries.