Honeywood Saskatoon

Description

Latin: ‘Amelanchier alnifolia ‘Honeywood’ ‘
Height: Up to 16 ft
Spread: Up to 13 feet, plant 5 foot spacing for Shelterbelt purposes
Sun exposure: Full sun- partial shade
Hardiness zone: 2+
Root system: Fibrous, low – no suckering
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: 30 + years
Plug material

Honeywood Saskatoon is an older Canadian cultivar with some characteristics that make it quite different from Northline, Smoky, and Lee #8. It was selected by A. J. Porter from Parkside, Saskatchewan, from seedlings originating from a highly productive area; and was named and introduced as Honeywood in 1973.

One of Honeywood’s best traits: late flowering and less seeds per berry than other varieties. Late spring blooming can potentially allow it to escape some late-spring frost damage. That’s particularly valuable across the Prairies where a warm spell followed by a hard frost can damage flowers and affect berry production.

Its main drawback is uneven ripening. That isn’t necessarily bad for a homeowner—you get an extended picking period, but is less desirable for a commercial grower.

Honeywood has low suckering and a vase-shaped habit. Prefers a fertile well drained soil environment. Because of its size; pruning to a more manageable height can be considered.

Honeywood is a very high yielding flavourful crop, with sizeable production at 2-4 years after establishment. Good fruit size at 16 mm diameter, deep blue when ripe.

Uses are the mostly the same as other Saskatoon varieties; canning, juicing, raw eating, baking, syrups, wines, fruit leathers.

Seedling size is approximately 12” tall , 1 year old.