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Lonicera villosa - (Michx.)Roem.&Schult.

Common Name Mountain fly honeysuckle, Fuller's honeysuckle
Family Caprifoliaceae
USDA hardiness 3-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Peaty or rocky barrens, bogs and bushy places[43], especially on limestone.
Range N. America - Newfoundland to Alaska, south to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and California.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Full sun
Lonicera villosa Mountain fly honeysuckle, Fuller


Lonicera villosa Mountain fly honeysuckle, Fuller

 

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Summary

Native to northern North America Lonicera villosa or Mountain honeysuckle is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft). The blue berries are eaten raw or preserved. They have a milder flavour than most edible honeysuckles; they can be eaten raw but are mainly used for making jams, jellies and refreshing drinks. There is a distinct bitterness in the flavour, even when fully ripe. Lonicera villosa solonis is smaller plant growing to 0.8 m (2ft 6in).


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Lonicera villosa is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft) at a slow rate. It is in flower from April to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

L. coerulea edulis. Reg.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or preserved[43, 105, 200]. A milder flavour than most edible honeysuckles, they can be eaten raw but are mainly used in making jams, jellies and refreshing drinks[183]. There is a distinct bitterness in the flavour, even when fully ripe[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a good moist soil in a sunny position, fruiting less well when grown in the shade[200]. Closely related to L. caerulea[200]. Polymorphic. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 2 months cold stratification[113] and should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with or without a heel, July/August in a frame. Good percentage[78]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with or without a heel, November in a cold frame. Good percentage[78]. Layering in autumn[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Diervilla loniceraBush Honeysuckle, Northern bush honeysuckleShrub1.0 3-8 MLMHSNM022
Lonicera affinis Climber7.0 5-9  LMHSNM11 
Lonicera angustifoliaNarrow-leafed honeysuckleShrub2.7 4-8 MLMHNM402
Lonicera caeruleaSweetberry honeysuckle, Bluefly honeysuckle, Haskap berryShrub2.0 3-9 FLMHNM400
Lonicera canadensisFly Honeysuckle, American fly honeysuckleShrub1.5 3-7  LMHNM11 
Lonicera caprifoliumItalian Honeysuckle, Italian woodbineClimber6.0 4-8 MLMHFSNM122
Lonicera chrysanthaHoneysuckleShrub4.0 3-7  LMHNM10 
Lonicera ciliosaOrange HoneysuckleClimber10.0 4-8 MLMHSNM222
Lonicera gracilipes Shrub1.8 5-9  LMHNM11 
Lonicera gracilipes glabra Shrub1.8 5-9  LMHNM11 
Lonicera henryi Climber6.0 4-8  LMHSNM113
Lonicera involucrataTwinberry, Twinberry honeysuckleShrub1.2 4-8 MLMHNM222
Lonicera japonicaJapanese HoneysuckleClimber5.0 4-10 FLMHSNDM233
Lonicera morrowiiMorrow's honeysuckleShrub2.0 3-7  LMHNM110
Lonicera nitidaBoxleaf HoneysuckleShrub3.0 6-9 FLMHFSNM003
Lonicera periclymenumHoneysuckle, European honeysuckleClimber4.5 4-8 MLMHFSNM123
Lonicera pileataPrivet honeysuckleShrub0.2 4-8  LMHFSNDM003
Lonicera quinquelocularis Shrub5.0 4-8  LMHNDM002
Lonicera sempervirensTrumpet Honeysuckle, Coral HoneysuckleShrub5.0 4-9 FLMHNDM01 
Lonicera utahensisUtah HoneysuckleShrub1.5 4-8  LMHNM11 
Lonicera venulosa Shrub1.5 5-9  LMHNM20 
Lonicera villosa solonis Shrub0.8 -  LMHNM30 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Michx.)Roem.&Schult.

Botanical References

43200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Clayton   Mon May 21 2007

This is a species from the Japanese and Kuril(?)Island area. The plants you name have been selected. They are a small to medium shrub and produce a much desired berry used in Japan. It is called Haskap there. Did yours plants grow?

Canadian Haskap

Leo Aerts   Sun Apr 26 2009

We are looking for seeds of Lonicera "blue velvet" Exchange or purchase. Any tip is also appreciated.

Bill Miller   Sat Aug 22 2009

How can I get Tundra and Borealis honeyberry (Haskaps) in North Dakota? They seem to be the best varieties, but Canada doesn't want to let them go.

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Subject : Lonicera villosa  
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