Maxi Honeyberry

Click here for Haskap Care Guide

Lonicera caerulea ssp. emphyllocalyx - Maxie

Due to import restrictions Honeysuckle aka Honeyberry cannot be shipped to CA.

The Maxie edible honeysuckle bush is well-suited for moderate climates, such as those found in Virginia. Our experience with growing edible honeysuckle varieties since 1989 has yielded modest harvests, but Maxie and Solo varieties may prove to be more productive. The berries from these varieties are expected to be sweeter, with a sugar content of around 18 brix (a measure of fruit sugar, with 18 being the minimum for California grapes to be dried into raisins).

These varieties were bred by Maxine Thompson, who used a Japanese subspecies of honeysuckle in her breeding work. This has resulted in plants that are both more adaptable and produce sweeter fruit. In Japan, these plants are known as Haskap.

Plant Characteristics:

• Pollination: Maxie requires pollination by Solo for optimal fruit production.
• Flowering Period: The flowers bloom later than other popular varieties, which is beneficial for areas with fluctuating winter temperatures.
• Bush Size: The plants are compact and attractive, making them an excellent addition to the garden. Space plants 3 feet apart in a circular pattern.
• Hardiness Zones: 3–8.

Plant Features:

• Pest Resistance: Excellent
• Disease Resistance: Excellent
• Drought Tolerance: Fair
• Heat Tolerance: Very Good
• Humidity Tolerance: Very Good
• Sun Tolerance: Good
• Wet Soil Tolerance: Poor
• Shade Tolerance: Fair
• No Spray: Excellent (Minimal pesticide requirements)
• Salt Tolerance: Poor
• Fresh for Kids: Very Good (Safe and appealing for children)
• Deer Resistance: Fair
• Thorns: None
• Plant Type: Shrub
• Soil Type: Adaptable to a range of soils
• Edible Type: Fruit (Tasty, sweet berries)
• Self Fertile: No (Requires a pollinator such as Solo)

This information is accurate to the best of our knowledge, comments/opinions are always welcome.