Chito Haskap (Honeyberry) vs Bilberry - TreeTime.ca

Chito Haskap (Honeyberry) vs Bilberry

Vaccinium myrtillus

Lonicera caerulea Chito

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Bilberry
Chito Haskap (Honeyberry)

American Black Currant is a native deciduous shrub known for its clusters of small black berries that ripen in mid-to-late summer. The berries are edible and have long been used for fresh eating, preserves, and baking. They provide food for birds and mammals, and their fragrant spring flowers attract bees and other pollinators.

American Black Currant’s foliage serves as a host plant for butterfly species such as the Green Comma and Gray Comma, and its dense branching offers cover for wildlife. The shrub has traditionally been planted in shelterbelts, riparian buffers, and restoration projects.

The Chito Haskap is a fruit-bearing shrub with large, tart-sweet berries that are ready for harvest in late June and into July. This shrub blooms in spring with small white flowers, and has medium-firm berries. Their taste is typically described as something between a raspberry and a blueberry.

The Chito Haskap, or Chito Honeyberry exhibits consistently high fruit yields and makes great for fresh eating or adding to jams and jellies.

Chito is a late pollinating variety. Pair with other late pollinators to have a higher yield.
Strawberry Sensation is a great companion variety.

Bilberry Quick Facts

Chito Haskap (Honeyberry) Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Height: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Growth form: low growing, clump-forming
Spreading: rhizomes - medium, seeds - medium
Suckering: none

Toxicity: leaves may be unsafe in high doses

Flowers: white or pink, bell-shaped
Flowers: white
Bloom time: summer
Berries: round bluish-purple berries, edible
Berries: oval
Fruit size: large
Firmness: medium
Flavor: sweet
Flavor: tart/sweet
Harvest: late summer to early fall
Harvest: late june/july
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC
Other Names: common bilberry, dwarf bilberry, low bilberry, myrtille, myrtle blueberry, myrtle whortleberry, whortleberry
Other Names: blue stuart honeyberry