I planted them 2-3 feet away from each tree. I couldn’t really find any information on spacing so don’t go by my spacing.
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Do any of you grow these in warm winter climates, e.g…, Southern California or Florida? I’m wondering if lack of cool winter weather is problem for honeyberries.
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Zone 8b here (central SC). I tried 2 from Stark Bros (blue moon and another- don’t remember variety) several years ago and they didn’t grow. Stark sent replacements the following year but those didn’t grow either. Blueberries have done well for me in the same area (sandy soils supplemented with peat and given ammonium sulfate fertilizer). Too hot perhaps? Too expensive to keep trying and failing. Would like to try them, though if there are varieties that will do in our heat and high humidity. The 2 I planted were in a sunny spot.
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My experience is limited, and I’ve had some defoliate in August from drought and heat. But didn’t die.
Zone 6b Kentucky.
Try putting in pots and adding a little lime to the garden soil…find some of that red Carolina clay to mix in if you’re in a sandy area, and some sand to mix in if you’re in hard red clay area. And place containers where they are shaded in the afternoons. See if that formula will work. Some large bare root plants may take off better than those being sold in ‘quart’ or smaller sized as growing plants.
Probably central SC is about as difficult for them as you’ll find…like growing a fir or a hemlock…rather iffy…although I know where some of both grow OK in Gastonia and Charlotte, NC.
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I have heard that some defoliate in hotter weather. I am in Chicagoland. Zone 5. It gets hot (90f, 33c) for 2-3 weeks in the summer. If I use them as landscaping, losing leaves sucks.
Do all of them lose leaves easily?
Which varieties always lose their leaves in the summer?
Do you have any that keep their leaves in hot weather?
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I planted 6 bushes in 2019 ordered from Honey Berry USA
Indigo Gem, Aurora
Boreal Beuty and Blizzard
Solo and Keiko Japanese varieties
My thought process was to have blooms covered early, mid and late.
Aurora is best tasting and prolific of what I have. Japanese are a little bitter/sour.
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most of those arent even close to ripe. next year once they turn fully blue leave them for at least 1 to 2 more weeks. you will thank me for that tip. 
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Agree! I’ll net them and let them hang until they start falling off.
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I would not think honeyberries 3’ from fruit trees would be a good idea, unless you are desperate for space. When the bushes get 5 feet tall, you won’t be able to access the fruit trees well to prune or bag their fruit. Also, if (when) you need to spray the fruit trees, the spray will also land on the berries. Even organic Surround spray would not be pleasant on the berries. Netting the berries with trees overhead is also awkward. If you put chicken wire enclosures around and over each bush, it is even more awkward. I speak from experience, as I tried growing blueberries under apple and pear trees, but eventually had to laboriously dig the bushes and transplant them elsewhere. I have over a dozen varieties of honeyberries, probably 35 or 40 bushes. Most are similar in taste. There is a hint of astringency in most, but once you cook them, that disappears. To me cooked cherries and cooked honeyberries taste nearly the same. I have either honeyberries or Carmine Jewel cherries nuked into oat bran nearly every morning. I have to remember which I am eating, as I freeze the cherries with pits in them, so spit the pits out as I eat them. It makes one slow down and savor them more. Another favorite is honeyberry flip, which recipe I got off this forum, which is much easier than baking a pie. I timed it, only six minutes from start to oven! If I lived in a warmer climate, I would probably opt for other fruits, other than perhaps just a couple honeyberry bushes for a little variety now and then. They are only so-so for fresh eating, but wonderful cooked. But in this twenty below weather we have had frequently this past month, I don’t need to be concerned at all about my honeyberry bed, which is also surrounded by 5’ chicken wire, just in case.
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yep. of everything i grow here my honeyberries and romance series cherries are the most bulletproof fruit when it comes to hardiness. next would be my currants and cane fruit. even if i got a odd year with little snow i dont worry about them.
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So it’s a waste of time money and space to even try them in 8b? Was thinking I could plant them in shade, even if they hardly produce I’d just love to try some, but can’t find any reliable information on people getting them to thrive in my hot humid weather
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@Gkight
I hope someone here can help you decide about 8b with hot humid summers. For what it’s worth, I’m in zone 10b with mild summers generally < 90F due to my proximity to the coast; and mild (some say nonexistent) winters mostly > 40F with a half-dozen nights > 35F. European currents and honeyberries absolutely hate it here.
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Bernis of HoneyberryUSA says ‘no’ to honeyberries near walnuts.
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its funny to see the southern folks on here get frustrated when the cant grow haskap but im thinking, you can grow peaches and pomegranates. id trade my haskap in a heartbeat to be able to just grow those 2.
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Haha sorry but I already have peaches and pomegranates, now I want to try haskaps. But yeah I’m not complaining just that you can buy a lot of fruits from the supermarket, but I’ll likely never taste a Honeyberry unless I grow it myself. That’s the main attraction is all haha I know I have a problem
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I don’t have your city in North Carolina…but I bet you I could do haskaps on the north or east side of a building in Charlotte or Raleigh. Might have to experiment as to the one that does best in 7b, and 8. I’ve planted hemlock trees in Charlotte a couple decades ago… and 67% of them are alive and happy. Service berries…100% alive, but cedar rust is a big issue. (Full sun and no irrigation…yes, probably they’d die, or at least look bad.)
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if they weren’t so delicate id mail you some frozen ones. honeyberryUSA sells/ships them. before i was growing them i bought some to try.
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I grow and freeze gallons of honeyberries, but mainly because I am somewhat limited in choices this far north. I would prefer to grow sweet cherries, table grapes, peaches, citrus, even raspberries, blackberries, but have found honeyberries just grow great for me with no fuss. I just need to net them. The rest is hit or miss or impossible outdoors.
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@steveb4 oh wow I’ll check their site next spring to see about getting some to try. Shipped fruit doesn’t quite hold up too well but it’s better than nothing. Thank you for the offer also
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they are pretty much mush once you get them but add some cream and sugar and its fantastic!
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