That was me, this season. Need scions, but probably will be next season. I’m thinking fragrant honeysuckle is the best option here.
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i may try this to see if it helps with pollination.
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I came across the fragrant bushes growing rampant here in our green spaces which is why the idea struck me. “What is this insipid strange looking drupe with two eyes?”
“Oh a slightly laxative possibly toxic berry that’s a shame since there’s literally millions of them.”
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Thanks for sharing Derek! Does anyone have any of these cultivars or are they brand new introductions?
I’d be interested in seeing how they compare to the Canadian cultivars available. It doesn’t seem like they have broken any boundaries as far as a “fresh eating” berry goes, based on their descriptions. High disease resistance and care free are desirable traits as well though.
They are almost up in Canada! I visited Coeur D’ Alene after a work conference in Spokane a few years ago, beautiful area. I bet it only gets better a little farther north. It reminded me of the rocky parts of Maine.
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i think they are new but there isn’t much information out about them that i could find. i wouldn’t get to excited about them yet. bobs varieties are pretty much the gold standard right now…
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It may well be that the Japanese origin would enable them to do well in hot and humid areas.
At least zone 7. Remains to be seen how the U of Sask. ones do in the south/southeast.
you might be suprised. the newer cultivars are very mildew resistant. i bet the pure japanese ones i would think would do the best with good airflow and protection from direct sun in the afternoon.
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Truth is until several long term tests of each variety have happened under multiple conditions, we just don’t know.
(I will say this…despite the 10 degree weather a week ago…my Borealis has fresh new leaves on it about mouse ear size.)
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Yeah, I dunno, the description says Zone 4, but also shows minus 40 degrees (?) Isn’t Zone 4 minus 30 degrees on the lower end? Makes me think they’re overstating the cold-hardiness with the minus forty claim, in order to make some sales, and then backing away from any liability with the zone 4 designation. 
I am in zone 3, and so I would rather buy a variety known to be hardy in zone 2…and not take any chances with a long-term investment such as hascaps.
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Zone 4 Canada is zone 3 USA Eh
Most honeyberries are rated lower, some zone 1 but you need bees out at the time. -55 I heard was the coldest they can take.
reference
Not me I never heard of other blossoms taking 20F and still fruit.
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Sandpoint, Idaho, where these hascaps were bred and are sold, is in the USA though, right? I was thinking perhaps they were bred to succeed and thrive in warmer locations where the more cold-hardy varieties of hascaps will not.
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Sandpoint Idaho is in zone 6a, so that’s not much different than European/Canadian/Asian areas where they’re grown.
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That’s a sensible thought. Still, I would suspect them to be zone 3 hardy as well as zone 6 or 7.
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from what ive read over the years the varieties with pure russian lineage can take z2, some z1 , pure japanese lineage z3. hybrids of the 2 are somewhere in between. honeyberryUSA has some good descriptions of the varieties on their site. z4 is being very conservative. the only thing that leafs out/ flowers the same time is my big black willows which is great for bringing in the early bumbles that pollinate my honeyberries 
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That is an interesting point Steve. I have an early blooming (I think black) willow I’ve maintained as a shrub in my yard. I’ll be interested to see if that helps with my haskap pollination!
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Here’s a farm / winery that has their own named cultivars in the Kenai. They don’t ship the plants- must pick up in person. I might try to visit this summer and see if I can taste any. They all look like they are Japanese based.
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mine flower just before leafing out and the early bumbles are all over them at some pretty cold temps. theyre such a messy tree but at least theyre good for something.
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Does the willow bloom even before serviceberry? I’m hoping my serviceberries will provide that same type of early season pollinator attractant/support.
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