About
Lonicera caerulea 'Altaj' is a non-climbing honeysuckle grown for its edible blue berries and early fruiting. It bears yellowish-white paired flowers from May to August and has frost-tolerant blooms. The shrub belongs to the Caprifoliaceae and produces an early-season crop valued for its vitamin C content. Plant where it will receive plenty of sunlight for best yields.
About the genus
Honeysuckles are arching shrubs or twining vines in the genus Lonicera of the family Caprifoliaceae. The genus includes 158 species native to northern latitudes in North America, Eurasia, and North Africa.
Wikipedia contributors, "Honeysuckle", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Honeysuckle
In the garden
Lonicera caerulea 'Altaj' is a non-climbing honeysuckle cultivar originating from the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and grown for its edible, blue fruit. It sets yellowish-white flowers in the UK from May to August; these blooms tolerate light frosts and are followed by berries that mature early in the season and are high in vitamin C. The plant sits within the Caprifoliaceae family and fits into fruit gardens as an early-bearing option. For productive plants place Lonicera caerulea 'Altaj' in a position with plentiful sunlight; full sun produces the best yields. It prefers soils rich in organic matter with good drainage and will tolerate a wide pH range (about 3.9–7.7), with an optimum around 5.5–6.5. The species is winter-hardy to very low temperatures, equivalent to H7 (fully hardy), so it withstands typical UK winters without special protection. Use 'Altaj' where early fruit is wanted: try a dedicated berry bed, an allotment plot, or the back of a mixed shrub border so fruiting stems are accessible for harvesting. Its early-maturing crop gives one of the first fresh berry harvests of the season, useful for kitchens and preserves where vitamin C-rich fruit is prized.
