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Honeysuckle: varieties, description
Honeysuckle is a young berry crop that is perfect for growing in a summer cottage or garden. Most of the varieties of this plant were obtained on the territory of Russia.
Description of honeysuckle varieties and their classification
To date, about 100 species of this plant are known. Only 85 varieties are registered in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. This data is constantly updated.
Fruits of the honeysuckle variety “Sibiryachka”
There are several classifications of varieties of this plant. The classification was created in order to make it easier for a person to navigate the species of this shrub and it was easier to choose the ideal variety for himself.
The best varieties of honeysuckle that can be divided by height are:
- low (height from 1 to 1,5 m): “Julia”, “Gerda”;
- medium (height from 1,5 to 2 m): “Princess Diana”, “Azure”;
- high (height over 2 m): “Nymph”.
The taste classification is as follows:
- sweet berries with a slightly sour taste: “Princess Diana”, “Late Gzhel”;
- honey fruits without any sour taste: “Ramenskaya”, “Lazurnaya”;
- unleavened berries with a slight strawberry flavor: “Volkhova”.
The most popular and demanded names for varieties of honeysuckle:
- “Siberian”;
- “Enchantress”;
- “Morena”;
- “Berel”;
- Fire Opal.
Each of the above varieties is good in its own way, and also has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Honeysuckle variety “Sibiryachka”
“Sibiryachka” is a type of honeysuckle that ripens earlier than anyone else. Main characteristics:
- height – up to 2 m;
- branches are slightly curved;
- the crown is round.
This variety is distinguished by oval and slightly elongated leaves. Large fruits. Their surface is slightly bumpy, and the top has a sharp end. The berries are sweet and sour. Up to 2,5 kg of fruit can be harvested from one bush.
The variety called “Fire Opal” is the most popular in Russia, as it is resistant to even the most severe frosts. Differs in low bushes, straight shoots, as well as a lush crown. The leaves are predominantly dark green in color.
The fruit is large and perfectly smooth. Berries contain a slight bitterness, so they are very often used when making jam. Despite this, they are very tasty and slightly refreshing.
About 6 kg of fruit can be harvested from one bush, which indicates a high yield of this fruit. But such an amount of berries can be obtained only starting from the 9th year of the plant’s life.
The main characteristics of the variety called “Morena”:
- shrubs reach more than 2 meters in height;
- berries are large enough and very aromatic;
- the taste of the fruit is sweet with a slight sourness.
The bush is resistant to frost and even the most severe cold of central Russia.
The variety called “Berel” is resistant to extreme cold. It is also rarely attacked by pests and various diseases. The fruits do not contain bitterness and almost never crumble. The berries have a dark blue hue, and are quite large in size.
The peculiarity of this variety is that it is self-fertile. Therefore, it must be constantly pollinated independently with the help of Kamchatka honeysuckle, as well as with the help of its seedlings.
The Volshebnitsa variety is just beginning to gain popularity. This type of honeysuckle is the owner of large and sweet berries, therefore it is classified as a dessert variety. The plant easily tolerates heat and drought, but after that, some of the fruits may slightly crumble.
Before planting any sort of honeysuckle on your site, study all the features of this plant. Each of its species differs in the type of shrub, fruit taste and care features. Among the huge number of varieties, you can choose the perfect one for yourself.