Berry Blue Honeyberry
Berry Blue Honeyberry
An Ultra-Hardy Haskap and Essential Pollinator Partner
Berry Blue Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea '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.
Berry Blue Honeyberry Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lonicera caerulea 'Berry Blue' (Czech 17) |
| Plant Type | Deciduous fruiting shrub (honeyberry / haskap) |
| Mature Height | 5–6 feet |
| Mature Width | 4–5 feet |
| Sun | Full sun to part shade (full sun for the heaviest crop) |
| Water | Moderate — 1 inch per week; keep evenly moist while establishing |
| USDA Zones | 2–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) |
| Soil | Very adaptable — unlike blueberries, no acidic soil needed; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam with good drainage |
| Pollination | Requires a second, different honeyberry variety blooming at the same time |
| Harvest | Very early — June, before strawberries |
| Winter Hardiness | Extreme — to about -40°F; flowers tolerate light spring frost |
Berry Blue Honeyberry Uses in Minnesota Gardens
Pollinator for named haskaps
Berry 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.
Earliest fruit of the season
Honeyberries beat every other fruit to harvest, giving fresh berries in June for snacking, jam, and baking in Eden Prairie.
Edible hedge
Its size and toughness suit an informal edible hedge or shrub border, productive even in part shade.
Best Time to Plant Berry Blue Honeyberry in Minnesota
Spring (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.
How to Plant Berry Blue Honeyberry
- Plant at least two different honeyberry varieties within 50 feet — a single plant or a single variety will not fruit.
- Dig wide, not deep — 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container.
- Backfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; firm gently and water in well.
- Space plants 4–5 feet apart.
- Mulch 2–3 inches with shredded bark or wood chips, kept off the stems.
- Little pruning is needed for years; remove only dead or crowded wood once mature.
Watering Berry Blue Honeyberry in Minnesota
First Year Watering Schedule
- Weeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow
- Month 1–2: Every 4–5 days
- Month 3–6: Weekly; keep evenly moist
- Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).
After Year One
Water during dry spells, especially while berries are sizing in late spring. Established honeyberries are fairly low-maintenance and tolerate brief dry periods.
Why won't my honeyberry fruit?
Almost 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.
Do honeyberries need acidic soil like blueberries?
No — that's a big advantage. They grow in ordinary garden soil, including Minnesota's near-neutral clay-loam, as long as it drains.
Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Easily — honeyberries are among the hardiest fruits on earth, surviving to about -40°F.
You May Also Like
- Borealis Honeyberry — large, sweet berries; pair with Berry Blue to pollinate
- Cinderella Honeyberry — a compact, sweet haskap
- Consort Currant — another tough, easy fruiting shrub