{"product_id":"berry-blue-honeyberry","title":"Berry Blue Honeyberry","description":"\u003ch1\u003eAn Ultra-Hardy Haskap and Essential Pollinator Partner\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBerry Blue Honeyberry (\u003cem\u003eLonicera caerulea\u003c\/em\u003e 'Berry Blue', also sold as Czech 17) is a vigorous, upright haskap that ripens elongated blue berries earlier than any other fruit — weeks before strawberries. Beyond its own sweet-tart, blueberry-like crop, it's the go-to pollinator for Borealis, Tundra, and other named haskaps. It's astonishingly hardy (to about -40°F) and needs no acidic soil. Just remember: honeyberries need a second, different variety to fruit. Whether you're starting an early berry patch in Edina, filling an edible bed in Maple Grove, or adding a tough fruit shrub in Woodbury — Berry Blue thrives in zone 4b–5a (and far colder) gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBerry Blue Honeyberry Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eLonicera caerulea\u003c\/em\u003e 'Berry Blue' (Czech 17)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous fruiting shrub (honeyberry \/ haskap)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–6 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade (full sun for the heaviest crop)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — 1 inch per week; keep evenly moist while establishing\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery adaptable — unlike blueberries, no acidic soil needed; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam with good drainage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePollination\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRequires a second, different honeyberry variety blooming at the same time\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery early — June, before strawberries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExtreme — to about -40°F; flowers tolerate light spring frost\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBerry Blue Honeyberry Uses in Minnesota Gardens\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollinator for named haskaps\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBerry Blue is the recommended pollen partner for Borealis, Tundra, and Indigo-series honeyberries — plant it within 50 feet to set their fruit in a Plymouth garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEarliest fruit of the season\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHoneyberries beat every other fruit to harvest, giving fresh berries in June for snacking, jam, and baking in Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEdible hedge\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts size and toughness suit an informal edible hedge or shrub border, productive even in part shade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Berry Blue Honeyberry in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring (late April–May) and early fall (late August–September) are both excellent. Avoid summer heat, and never plant after mid-October — frost-heaving kills new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Berry Blue Honeyberry\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlant at least two different honeyberry varieties within 50 feet — a single plant or a single variety will not fruit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; firm gently and water in well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace plants 4–5 feet apart.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 2–3 inches with shredded bark or wood chips, kept off the stems.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLittle pruning is needed for years; remove only dead or crowded wood once mature.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Berry Blue Honeyberry in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 4–5 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Weekly; keep evenly moist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater during dry spells, especially while berries are sizing in late spring. Established honeyberries are fairly low-maintenance and tolerate brief dry periods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy won't my honeyberry fruit?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost always pollination. Honeyberries need a second, genetically different variety blooming at the same time and planted within about 50 feet. A lone plant — or two of the same variety — sets little or no fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo honeyberries need acidic soil like blueberries?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — that's a big advantage. They grow in ordinary garden soil, including Minnesota's near-neutral clay-loam, as long as it drains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily — honeyberries are among the hardiest fruits on earth, surviving to about -40°F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBorealis Honeyberry — large, sweet berries; pair with Berry Blue to pollinate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCinderella Honeyberry — a compact, sweet haskap\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConsort Currant — another tough, easy fruiting shrub\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#1\/7\" Pot","offer_id":54312933949745,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/berry-blue-honeyberry.jpg?v=1779557841","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/berry-blue-honeyberry","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}