Thimbleberry vs Blue Banana Haskap (Honeyberry) - TreeTime.ca

Thimbleberry vs Blue Banana Haskap (Honeyberry)

Lonicera caerulea Blue Banana

Rubus parviflorus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Blue Banana Haskap (Honeyberry)
Thimbleberry

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.

Thimbleberry is an ornamental shrub with large, green maple-like-leaves. Flowers are attractive, fragrant, and turn into red-raspberry-like berries. The berries are good for jams, cakes, breads, muffins etc. If you remove the berry, the core resembles a thimble, giving this shrub its namesake.

Blue Banana Haskap (Honeyberry) Quick Facts

Thimbleberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 4a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: none


Foliage: Soft leaves up to 8 inches across
Fall colour: gold
Flowers: white, showy
Berries: blue, oval
Berries: edible, red, similar to raspberries
Flavor: sweet
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, ON
Other Names: blue banana honeyberry
Other Names: thimbleberry, western thimbleberry