The Heat And Cold Tolerant Fruit Tree You Can Grow In A Compact Container

What thrives in cold weather as well as hot, grows well in the ground and also a pot? It sounds like a riddle, but it's not: Honeyberries (Lonicera caerulea) have enough winning characteristics that it's shocking they're not a staple in home gardens. These natives of Russia and Japan are cold hardy enough to withstand zone 1 temperatures but live just as happily in the warmer reaches of zone 8. Adding to this flexibility, honeyberries grow well in a variety of soils — and in pots — thanks to their shallow root systems. The purplish-blue berries will attract many birds, especially cedar waxwings. Honeyberries are part of the honeysuckle family; although some species of Lonicera are invasive in North America, honeyberries are not.

Consider making the 'Boreal Beauty' honeyberry part of your container garden. This cultivar stands out among its cousins as a prolific fruit producer. Also, intriguingly, the branches stay upright even when they're laden with fruit. Plus, the berries themselves are large and notably tastier than those of other honeyberry varieties.

This stunning plant will have birds and butterflies flocking to your yard, balcony, or patio. Honeyberry bushes often come in 3-gallon containers that they can continue to grow in for a about two years. However, switching to an unglazed clay pot with good drainage could be a boon for your shrub; this material helps retain the sun's heat while letting extra water evaporate. Make sure the soil is well-draining, since pot-bound plants run the risk of root rot. 

As your plant grows, sizing up in pots every two to three years is a smart plan. A good way to tell that it's time for a bigger container is if you see thin feeder roots poke through the soil surface. Since you'll progressively increase the size of the pot, consider a getting base like the WBD WEIBIDA Plant Caddy. This rolling base is expandable, so it can grow with your plant as it graduates to larger pots. Pruning your 'Boreal Beauty' once a year will promote new growth and keep it within the bounds of the container. 

Place pots where they'll get between 6 and 8 hours of sunlight. If the sun is intense in your area, 'Boreal Beauty' honeyberries may suffer a bit of damage to their leaves. You can solve this problem by situating the pot on a wheeled base that allows you to move the plant to a shadier area.

In order to set fruit, a honeyberry tree needs a different, yet compatible honeyberry variety planted nearby. 'Boreal Beast' is a good contender for the role, since it blooms at almost the same time as the 'Boreal Beauty' and has compatible pollen. Honeyberry bushes grow to heights of 3 to 5 feet — tall enough to create a private patio space. On a spacious balcony, patio, or deck, a couple of these fruit trees will create a bird and pollinator habitat without the need for a yard.

During its first year, give your 'Boreal Beauty' about 2 inches of water per week to help it develop strong roots. If your region gets about an inch or two of rain per week, this should be enough for the honeyberry to live happily without extra watering. For drier areas, help the plants meet their water needs with a drip system and a bit of mulch to hold in moisture.