Grow honeyberry as a fruiting shrub: plant two compatible cultivars, and keep the ground moist. Pick timing is on Harvesting Honeyberry.
Plant two compatible cultivars for fruit
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Partners | Two different cultivars that bloom at the same time, in bee range | One plant, or two pots of the same cultivar |
| Sun | Full sun for the heaviest crop; light shade is tolerated | Deep shade that cuts yield |
| Soil | Moist, draining loam; a wide pH range is fine | Letting the row dry like a drought-tolerant vine |
| Look | A 3- to 8-foot deciduous shrub with early blue fruit | Expecting a twining fence vine |
Honeyberry is Lonicera caerulea — also sold as haskap. It is self-incompatible. Blue Moon next to Blue Velvet, or Tundra next to Borealis, will set fruit if they open together. Two plants of one name will not. [1] [2] [3] Climbing honeysuckle care is on How to Grow Honeysuckle. [4]
Do I need two honeyberry plants?
Yes, two different cultivars that bloom at the same time. One bush, or two of the same name, will flower with little fruit.
Keep the ground moist
Honeyberry grows near water in the wild. It is not a plant you can ignore in a dry first summer. Compost in spring is enough feed for most home bushes. Do not push late nitrogen that keeps soft growth going into frost. These shrubs do not sucker, so they stay where you plant them.
- Water deeply about once a week in year one if rain does not do it. Shallow daily sprinkles make weak roots.
- Mulch 2 to 3 inches, kept off the stems, to hold moisture and block weeds.
- Keep grass and other plants off the shallow roots for the first two seasons.
- Once the bush is set, water in a long dry spell. Do not treat it like a drought vine.
Does honeyberry need acid soil like blueberry?
No. It takes a wide pH range. Keep the ground moist. Strongly acid blueberry mix is not required.
Why there is no fruit
- Only one cultivar, or two plants of the same name.
- Partners that bloom in different weeks.
- Dry soil through flowering, or deep shade.
Late-winter thinning of old branches helps an established bush. Do not take more than about a quarter of the canopy in one year. A vine prune calendar is a different job. When the fruit colors, pick on Harvesting Honeyberry.
If there is no fruit, check partners and bloom time — not a fertilizer spike.
FAQ
Is honeyberry the same as blueberry?
No. Honeyberry is Lonicera. Blueberry is Vaccinium and wants strongly acid soil. Honeyberry takes a wider pH range.
Is haskap a different plant?
Haskap is another name for Lonicera caerulea. Some sellers use honeyberry for Russian kinds and haskap for Japanese ones.
Is Aurora a kind we list?
No. Aurora is a common pollinator in other lists but not a card here. Pair two different cultivars from this catalog that bloom together.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Utah State University Extension -
https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/haskap-in-the-garden.pdf - [2] University of Saskatchewan -
https://gardening.usask.ca/gardening-advice/gardenline-nested-pages/food-plant-pages/fruit/haskap.php - [3] Anoka County Master Gardeners -
https://anokamastergardeners.org/gardening-articles/sweeten-your-yard-with-honeyberries - [4] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lonicera/
This note is part of Lonicera Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors