Lonicera kamtschatica Kalinka - Honeyberry

Lonicera kamtchatica Kalinka is a hardy Honeysuckle shrub , which in spring has beautiful cream-white delicately scented flowers followed by edible dark blue berries with a taste similar to blueberries. 

Also known as "Blue Honeysuckle", the Lonicera caerulea ssp. kamtchatica forms a bushy habit, with small deciduous leaves, 3 to 8cm (1.2 to 3.1 in) long, which are ovate and dark green.

Numerous cream-white tubular flowers, 3cm (1.2 in) long, release a powerful and pleasant fragrance from February to May.  They have two large coloured lips and leave the stamens exposed. In summer, the flowers give way to magnificent dark blue, waxy, cylindrical berries, 2cm (0.8 in) long, similar to blueberries in taste and appearance. Edible and rich in antioxidants, vitamins B and C, they can be used in jams or jellies.

Hardy up to -40°C (-40 °F), Lonicera Kalinka can tolerate any rich, moist, well-drained soil in a sunny position. Avoid pruning for the first three years.

With its height of 1.20m (3 ft 11 in), Lonicera caerulea is ideal in a flower bed or hedge. You will enjoy its fragrance even more when planted in a pot on a patio!

Tip: For better fruiting, plant two or three together, this will increase the pollination rate.