Blue Stuart Haskap (Honeyberry) vs Illini Hardy Blackberry

The Illini Hardy Blackberry was developed in Illinois for northern growers, and produces a large, juicy blackberry with medium-sweet flavor. The berries are ready for harvest in midsummer, and go great in preserves.

The Illini Hardy Blackberry, or the Illinois Blackberry, are floricanes, primarily fruiting on second year canes. Each spring cut back all two-year old canes, leaving only the last year’s growth. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn’t require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

The Blue Stuart Haskap is a fruit-bearing shrub that produces medium-sized, oval-shaped and sweet berries. Their taste is typically described as something between a raspberry and a blueberry. The berries are ready for harvest through June and July, and are of medium firmness.

The Blue Stuart Haskap, or Blue Stuart Honeyberry is a cultivar of Russian origin bred by Lidia Stuart who grew up in far eastern Russia.

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

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