Lonicera caerulea

RHS Plant Profile

honeyberry

Other common names

blue-berried honeysuckle

Shrubs

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A deciduous shrub to 2.5m high, with paired, ovate green leaves, and small white flowers in late spring and early summer. Flowers are followed by edible berries, which are blue-black and oblong-shaped, and develop a white bloom when ready for harvesting

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained or Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Caprifoliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Lonicera can be deciduous and evergreen shrubs, or climbers with twining stems. The tubular or two-lipped flowers, often very fragrant, are followed by red or black berries
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained soil; fruits best in full sun but may be less susceptible to aphids if grown in light shade. Plant two or more shrubs for cross pollination and fruit set. See honeyberry cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed in summer, removing the berry flesh before sowing, or by semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Banks and slopes
Edible fruit
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Until established follow Pruning group 1. Thereafter, in early to mid-summer, remove weak or straggly growth, cut up to one-fifth of older stems to ground level and remove tips of young shoots to encourage flowering side shoots

Pests

May be susceptible to honeysuckle aphids, thrips and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews