Honeyberry Blue Velvet™
Fragrant white spring flowers just add to the appeal!
Blue Velvet™ is about 4 to 5 feet tall, and very easy to grow in regular to poor, moist soil and any shady spot (except in the northernmost portion of its hardiness range, where some sun is preferred.) The 1½-inch, cylindrical blue fruit ripens about 2 weeks before strawberries in most regions, beginning the first or second year after planting. Even when not in flower or fruit, however, this Honeyberry is attractive, thanks to velvety grayish-green foliage.
Native to eastern Siberia, this hardy deciduous species is untroubled by pests or disease. Blue Velvet™ is a unisex type, meaning that it is NOT self-fertile but will pollinate with any other Honeyberry -- so plant it with Blue Forest and both varieties will fruit equally heavily, bearing 3 to 5 pounds of delicious berries in early summer.
Honeyberry has no chill requirement, and is quite long-lived (except 50 to 75 years of active fruiting!). No fertilizer is required, but if you decide to use one, a balanced mixture such as 10-10-10 or 5-5-5 is ideal. Mulch as necessary to maintain moisture in the soil. Zones 3-8, 9 West Coast.
| Genus | Lonicera |
| Species | kamchatika |
| Variety | Blue Velvet™ |
| Bloom Season | Mid Spring - Late Spring |
| Fruit Color | Blue |
| Zone | 3 - 8 |
| Plant Height | 4 ft - 5 ft |
| Plant Width | 3 ft - 4 ft |
| Fruit Width | 0.5 in |
| Item Form | Trade Gallon |
| Additional Characteristics | Bird Lovers, Edible |
| Bloom Color | White |
| Bloom Season | Spring |
| Harvest Season | Early Summer, Mid Summer |
| Light Requirements | Shade |
| Moisture Requirements | Moist, well-drained |
| Resistance | Disease Resistant, Pest Resistant |
| Soil Tolerance | Normal, loamy |
| Uses | Outdoor |
| Restrictions | CAN, HI, PR |
