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Red Elderberry vs Honey Bee Haskap (Honeyberry)
Sambucus racemosa
Lonicera caerulea Honey Bee
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
Red Elderberry is an attractive, medium-sized deciduous shrub.
It produces clusters of white flowers in the spring and bright red berry-like drupes, which provide beautiful contrast against its coarse, textured green foliage.
Red Elder can be pruned as a small single or multi-stemmed tree.
Note: This species is currently unavailable. Grow your own using Red Elderberry seeds at SeedTime.ca.
Honey Bee Haskap produces tarter fruit than the Aurora and Borealis varieties and is known for bearing fruit at a younger age. The flavour of Haskaps is generally described as a cross between a blueberry and a raspberry. Honey Bee Haskaps are well suited to fresh eating, freezing, baking, and preserves.
The Honey Bee Haskap has stronger fruit holds than other varieties so the berries stay on the bush longer. The berries do not roll well so they are not recommended for mechanical harvesting.
For optimal fruit production, cross-pollination is required. Haskaps need to be planted with a compatible variety. Compatibility is influenced by both bloom time and genetics.
Honey Bee Haskap is an early-pollinating variety and pairs well with Aurora, Borealis, Tundra, and Indigo Gem.
Red Elderberry Quick Facts
Honey Bee Haskap (Honeyberry) Quick Facts
Toxicity: toxic to humans