Honeyberry Regina - Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica

The Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica 'Regina' is a honeysuckle with edible fruits renowned for its high productivity and early ripening. Its pruinose blue berries offer a sour-sweet taste, slightly acidic and fragrant. Hardy up to -40°C, it easily withstands extreme temperatures. The honey berries are disease-resistant and low-maintenance. Its bushy habit makes it adaptable to the garden or in a pot on a terrace. The fragrant flowering in March announces a bountiful harvest starting in early June, favoured by the presence of pollinators. Easy to grow and disease-resistant, it is ideal for a small fruit hedge, combined with other varieties of small fruits.

The Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica, commonly known as Blue Honeysuckle, Honeyberry, Mayberry, Siberian Blueberries, Edible Honeysuckle, Maibeere, or Haskap, is a shrub species belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family, like all honeysuckles. It originates from Eastern Europe, particularly from Russia and Siberian Asia, from Kamchatka to Magadan and Sakhalin Island. The edible honeysuckle has been known and consumed for a long time by indigenous populations. It thrives in cold regions, as it can withstand -40°C, but only -7°C for its flowers. It is an interesting shrub for high-altitude gardens.

The 'Regina' variety is an early and high-yielding selection. Sturdy and robust, it takes the form of a dense and rounded bush, measuring 1.50 m in height with a spread of 1.20 m. The foliage is deciduous, composed of opposite, ovate, dark green leaves, slightly greyish-blue, measuring 3 to 8 cm in length. The flowering occurs from March, in the form of tubular flowers, blooming in pairs, greenish-yellow, quite discreet, intensely visited by bees. The fruiting mainly occurs on one and two-year-old branches. The bush then becomes covered with almost round, oval-shaped, pruinose blue berries, measuring 1 to 1.5 cm in length, 0.7 to 0.8 cm in diameter, weighing approximately 1 gram, with a honey-like scent. They contain very small seeds that are not noticeable when eaten. Reaching ripeness in early June, the drupe is filled with greenish-yellow, juicy, sweet, and slightly acidic pulp, similar to that of blueberries in both flavour and appearance. The harvest is staggered as the fruits ripen, when their flesh turns red. The productivity of a Honeyberry is approximately 2.5 to 4 kg of fruits per plant, depending on the age and growing conditions of the plant. To improve fruiting, it is preferable to plant at least two plants. The varieties 'Morena', 'Nimfa', and 'Silginka' can be good pollinating partners. The flowers are attractive to bees for good pollination. The fruits are rich in vitamins B and C, fibre, minerals, and antioxidants.

In the kitchen: Once harvested, Mayberries can only be stored for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator, preferably in the vegetable drawer. The fruits of the 'Regina' Honeyberry can be enjoyed fresh, and for added indulgence, they can be sprinkled with a little granulated sugar. Excellent in jellies or jams, they can also be used to make fruit salads, muffins or smoothies, and tarts... And also very fruity, slightly acidic juices. When dried, the berries retain all their nutritional value. To extend the enjoyment, the fruits can be easily frozen.

Transform your garden into a gourmet paradise with the Honeyberry. Ideal for a rustic or gourmet hedge, choose a sunny location, but sheltered from excessive heat, in a cool, fertile, and non-calcareous soil. Combine it with other delights such as raspberries, redcurrants, blackberries, blueberries, or even goji berries (Lycium barbarum) for tasty harvests. You can also grow it in a pot on a terrace for a natural immersion. For a burst of colours, combine it with ornamental shrubs such as Fragrant Osmanthus, Lilacs, Mock Oranges, abelias, Mexican Orange Blossom or Kolkwitzia, taking care to respect the space requirements of the honeysuckle. You can even plant it in a container on a terrace to appreciate the beauty of this shrub up close. From spring onwards, let yourself be enchanted by the intoxicating fragrance of the Honeyberry!