Growing honeyberry
berry / bush fruit
Pollination
Needs two different, compatible varieties that flower at the same time - nurseries sell them in matched pairs.
Growing it
Zones 2-7, one of the hardiest fruits there is and the first to ripen each year. Blueberry-like flavour but no acid-soil requirement. Bird netting is essential.
Where honeyberry grows best
Hardy in zones 2-7, and it needs enough winter cold - about 500-1000 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Also parts of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington.
Will you get enough chill?
Honeyberry (Haskap) needs roughly 500–1000 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does honeyberry grow in?
Honeyberry (Haskap) grows in USDA hardiness zones 2-7.
How many chill hours does honeyberry need?
Roughly 500-1000 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Does honeyberry need a pollinator?
Needs a pollination partner. Needs two different, compatible varieties that flower at the same time - nurseries sell them in matched pairs.
Which states can grow honeyberry?
Honeyberry (Haskap) suits most of Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland and 22 more, and parts of 14 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.