Borealis Haskap (Honeyberry) vs Souris Raspberry (an improved Boyne Raspberry)
Lonicera caerulea Borealis
Rubus x Souris
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
Borealis Haskap is a popular variety due to its great-tasting, sweet-tart berries. The flavour of Haskaps is generally described as a cross between a blueberry and a raspberry. Borealis Haskaps are well suited to fresh eating, baking, and preserves.
It has strong fruit holds and is not very firm so it does not do well when handled by equipment. This variety is a favourite for home gardens and U-Picks.
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.
Borealis Haskap is an early-pollinating variety and pairs well with Aurora and Honey Bee.
Souris is an improved version of Boyne, the classic prairie raspberry. It is planted all across Canada and is extremely robust. Where other raspberry cultivars rely on unique selling points and specializations, Souris is just generally a great raspberry.
Souris is cold hardy and resistant to disease and spider mites. Its berries are deliciously sweet and tart while colourful, great for U-pick operations, fresh eating, or using in products such as jams and pies. They can be a bit softer than other raspberry varieties.
The Souris Raspberry is a fast-growing floricane. This means that raspberries will not grow on canes the year they first grow. The mature canes they do grow on, however, produce more berries than primocane varieties.