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Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) vs Boreal Beast Haskap (Honeyberry)
Amelanchier alnifolia Smoky
Lonicera caerulea Boreal Beast
Smoky Saskatoon is a large deciduous shrub that suckers and produces edible fruit. Smoky Saskatoons are one of the most productive and widely used Saskatoons and have large sweet berries with good yields.
One of the oldest and first good yielding cultivars, a majority of the commercial saskatoon orchards were based on this cultivar until Northline and other cultivars were introduced.
Smoky has slightly smaller fruit than Northline and a milder taste but is not acidic like Pembina, Thiessen or Honeywood.
Boreal Beast Haskap produces sweet/tart berries that have an excellent flavour. The flavour of Haskaps is generally described as a cross between a blueberry and a raspberry. Boreal Beast Haskaps are well suited to fresh eating, freezing, baking, and preserves.
They have firmer berries that tend to remain on the bush for longer when compared to other varieties.
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.
Boreal Beast Haskap is a late-pollinating variety that pairs well with Boreal Blizzard and Boreal Beauty.