{"product_id":"borealis-honeyberry","title":"Borealis Honeyberry","description":"\u003ch1\u003eLarge, Sweet Haskap Berries on an Ultra-Hardy Bush\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorealis Honeyberry (\u003cem\u003eLonicera caerulea\u003c\/em\u003e 'Borealis') is a University of Saskatchewan haskap prized for some of the largest, sweetest berries of any honeyberry — elongated blue fruit with a flavor between blueberry and raspberry, ripening in June before any other fruit. It's incredibly cold-hardy and grows in ordinary soil (no acidity required), but like all honeyberries it needs a second, different variety such as Berry Blue 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 — Borealis thrives in zone 4b–5a (and far colder) gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBorealis 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 'Borealis' (U of Saskatchewan)\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\u003e3–5 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\u003e3–4 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 — 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 (e.g., Berry Blue) 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; large, sweet berries\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\u003eBorealis Honeyberry Uses in Minnesota Gardens\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBest-flavor fresh eating\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorealis is grown for size and sweetness — the honeyberry of choice for fresh snacking and dessert in a Plymouth garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEarliest harvest of the year\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt fruits in June, ahead of strawberries, for the first homegrown berries of the season in Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEdible hedge and part shade\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProductive even in part shade, it works in an edible hedge or a lightly shaded bed where blueberries would struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Borealis 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 Borealis Honeyberry\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlant a second, different variety (such as Berry Blue) within 50 feet — Borealis will not fruit alone or with only its own kind.\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 Borealis 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 low-maintenance and tolerate brief dry periods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat should I plant to pollinate Borealis?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBerry Blue is the classic partner, but any different honeyberry that blooms at the same time within about 50 feet will work. You need two distinct varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do the berries taste?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSweet and complex — like a cross between blueberry and raspberry. Borealis is among the best-flavored haskaps for fresh eating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily — honeyberries survive to about -40°F, and the early flowers shrug off light spring frosts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBerry Blue Honeyberry — the recommended pollinator for Borealis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCinderella Honeyberry — a compact, sweet haskap\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeritage Raspberry — easy everbearing fruit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54312935162161,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/borealis-honeyberry.jpg?v=1779557843","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/borealis-honeyberry","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}