Western Snowberry vs Blue Banana Haskap (Honeyberry) - TreeTime.ca

Western Snowberry vs Blue Banana Haskap (Honeyberry)

Lonicera caerulea Blue Banana

Symphoricarpos occidentalis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Blue Banana Haskap (Honeyberry)
Western Snowberry

The Blue Banana Haskap is a fruit-bearing shrub that produces medium-sized oval berries that are quite sweet. Their taste is typically described as something between a raspberry and a blueberry. Its small white flowers bloom in April, with harvest time being mid-June to mid-July. The berries are juicy, and are great for fresh eating and using in preserves.

The Blue Banana Haskap, or Blue Banana Honeyberry is a cold-hardy cultivar.

Blue Banana is a late pollinating variety. Pair with other late pollinators to have a higher yield.
Blue Stuart is a great companion variety.

Like the Common Snowberry, the Western Snowberry is a small shrub with pink flowers useful for feeding livestock and preventing erosion. Unlike the common species, however, the Western Snowberry is much more suited to wet conditions, capable of persevering through poor soil drainage and occasional flooding.

After the Snowberry's flowers have bloomed, it produces berries which often last on the plant through winter. These berries are toxic to humans, but livestock and local wildlife love them! Those hoping to attract wildlife to their property can plant Snowberry and expect to see animals foraging on it much later in the year than other plants.

Blue Banana Haskap (Honeyberry) Quick Facts

Western Snowberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 1a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: high


Toxicity: berries are toxic to humans
Flowers: pinkish white
Berries: blue, oval
Berries: small, white, poisonous to humans
Flavor: sweet
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, NT
Other Names: blue banana honeyberry
Other Names: buckbrush, wolfberry