ABSTRACT
Blue honeysuckle is a circumpolar, widely ranging species, native to northern boreal forests of Asia, Europe, and North America. In Canada, the species occurs in the territory of Nunavut and all Canadian provinces. Breeding programs began in Russia in the 1950s, in Japan in the 1980s, and in the late 1990s at Oregon State University and the University of Saskatchewan. Many small berries are being touted as wonderful sources of vitamins and health-promoting constituents, and blue honeysuckle is no exception. The blue honeysuckle is rather similar in appearance and taste to blueberry, which is well established in the marketplace, making it difficult for this new crop to become competitive. Lonicera caeru lea is a quite attractive small fruit crop, and although the fruit industry is extremely competitive and difficult to penetrate, blue honeysuckle has very good potential.
