| Beloved in Europe and Asia for centuries but almost unknown here, Honeyberry is a relative of the Honeysuckle with sweet, succulent, VERY edible fruit resembling blueberries. A shade-lover, it bears lovely white flowers in spring, followed in early summer by some of the juiciest, most delectable little berries you will ever taste. You've got to try it! 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 1 1/2-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 at least two Blue Velvet™ or try it with another unisex variety, Blue Bell, -- 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. |
