Honeyberries (AKA Haskap) are in the honeysuckle family. The flowers and fruit are very frost tolerant – a great feature for cold climates and higher elevations. Fruits are high in antioxidants, range from sweet to tart, and require another variety to pollinate, great fresh or made into jams, jellies, and sauces.
|
Variety |
Characteristics |
Size |
Zone |
Harvest |
Pollinator |
|
Aurora |
Sweet, less acidic than others |
5-6′ |
2 |
Mid-June to Mid-July |
Borealis, Indigo Gem, Tundra |
|
Borealis |
Sweet/Tangy
|
4′ |
2 |
Mid-May |
Aurora |
|
Boreal Beast |
Ripen mid to late July |
3-5′ |
3 |
Early Summer |
Boreal Blizzard |
|
Boreal Blizzard |
Largest fruits |
4-6′ |
2 |
July |
Boreal Beast, Tundra |
|
Indigo Gem |
Sweet/Tangy |
4-6′ |
2 |
Mid-June to Mid-July |
Aurora, Boreal Blizzard |
|
Tundra |
Sweet/Tart |
4-5′ |
2 |
Late May to early June |
Aurora |
See the University of Saskatchewan for more information
Red Lake & Consort Black Currants are popular for both their fruit and as a small flowering shrub. They have yellow flowers in the spring and produce red or black fruits for jelly or pies. Flowers arise from last year’s wood. Improve fruit production by lightly pruning in early spring, once they reach mature size. Both are self-fertile.
|
Variety |
Height |
Width |
Zone |
Characteristics |
|
Red Lake |
3-6’ |
3-4’ |
3 |
Bright red berries borne in large clusters |
|
Consort Black |
4-6’ |
4’ |
3 |
The traditional currant, great for wines and sauces. Large clusters of black fruits. |
Dwarf Cherries bear fruit the size of pie cherry trees (about ½” diameter), but are the compact shape of a shrub. Picking fruit as soon as they turn red will yield a tart cherry suitable for pies. Leaving them to mature for a few weeks will allow the color to darken and they will sweeten up for fresh eating. Cover with netting to protect them from the birds. They do best with another variety nearby but are self-fertile.
|
Variety |
Characteristics |
Size |
Zone |
Ripens |
|
Carmine Jewel |
One of the most productive varieties in MSU Extension testing. Pie cherry type flavor. |
6’ |
3 |
Earlier than other varieties. Turns black-red |
|
Juliet |
One of the best for fresh eating. |
6’ |
2 |
Early to mid-August Turns dark red |
|
Romeo |
Flavorful, great for processing, juicing, or eating fresh |
6’ |
2 |
Mid-August Turns dark red |
|
Valentine |
Tart flavor – great for processing into juice, jams, pies |
4-5’ |
3 |
Early to mid-August |
Small Fruiting Bush Cherries are tough and prolific, they are highly productive with minimal care. Their smaller size of the fruit makes them excellent for processing into syrup, jams, jellies, and more.
|
Variety |
Fruit Characteristics |
Size |
Zone |
Pollinator |
|
Chokecherry |
MT native plant. Bitter when fresh, dark purple to black, borne on clusters, makes great syrup, Jams and Jellies |
15-20’ |
3 |
Self-fertile |
|
Nanking |
1/3” bright red and sweet-tart, makes great jam/jelly or eaten fresh. Early bloomer, very prolific |
6-8’ |
2 |
Plant 2 or more for best results |
|
Western Sand Cherry |
MT native plant. ¾” round, sweet, ripen July to mid- August, used for preserves, purple fall color |
5-6’ |
3 |
Self-fertile |
|
Pawnee Butte’s Western Sand Cherry |
This is a variety of western sand cherry with a low growing habit, red to purple fall color |
1.5’T x 6’W |
3 |
Self-fertile |
Juneberries do well in many soil types, though they prefer pH neutral loam. Highly adapted to cold climates. It grows as an understory tree in the wild but also does well in full sun. Fruit high in fiber and antioxidants with a sweet flavor that is great for fresh eating or for processing. Most varieties are self-fertile, but you may get better fruit set by planting more than one variety. Pests include saskatoon sawfly and juniper rust.
|
Variety |
Fruit Characteristics |
Height |
Spread |
Zone |
|
Northline |
Large dark purple fruit, sweet and prolific |
5-7’ |
5-7’ |
2 |
|
Regent |
Dark purple to black fruit is sweet and good for fresh eating or jams/jelly |
4-6’ |
4-8’ |
2 |
|
Saskatoon |
Closest to the wild type, fruits are smaller but sweet |
8-10’ |
6-7’ |
2 |
|
Smokey |
Fruit is similar to Northline and regent but slightly smaller |
8-10’ |
8-10’ |
3 |
|
Thiessen |
Early bloomer that has slightly larger fruit |
10-12’ |
7-8’ |
2 |
Elderberries produce large clusters of blue-black fruit that are great for pies, jam, and wine. It is not recommended to eat the fruit fresh due to the high amount of tannins. They tolerate a wide range of soil types but are not tolerant of drought- plant them where it will be easy to water. Elder flowers are also edible. All our varieties are from the American native Sambucus canadensis, which performs better in the Rocky Mountains than European types. Self-fertile but do far better when planted with more than one variety.
|
Variety |
Characteristics |
Size |
Zone |
Harvest |
|
American |
Grown from seed, closest to the wild type |
6.5-13′ T |
3 |
Mid to Late Summer |
|
Adams |
Grown by cuttings, pair with York or American for better fruit set |
8-10’T 8-10’W |
3 |
Late Summer |
|
York |
Grown by cuttings, pair with Adams or American for better fruit set |
10-12′ T 8-12′ W |
3 |
Late summer |
Gooseberries grows 3-5’ tall and wide. Thorny and hardy to zone 3. Productive pale green fruits blush pink when ripe. Great for pie, jam, or fresh eating. Leaves have dark purple fall color. Self-fertile.
Chokeberries AKA Aronia are hardy and adaptable to fairly wet or dry sites though fruit production is best with supplemental water. Stems are very astringent so in areas with a large deer population they will often nibble on the flowers but rarely disfigure the plant itself. All Aronia varieties have a beautiful red to orange fall color. The fruits are high in antioxidants and are a bit on the astringent side (much like a dry red wine) but can be eaten fresh or processed into juices/jams.
|
Variety |
Characteristics |
Height |
Spread |
Zone |
|
Autumn Magic |
Fragrant flowers, red and purple fall color |
3-5’ |
2-4’ |
3 |
|
Iroquois Beauty |
Wine red fall color, suckering plant, highly adaptable |
3.5-4.5’ |
4-5’ |
3 |
|
Low Scape Mound |
Brilliant red fall color, produces fairly bitter berries |
1-2’ |
1.5-2’ |
3 |
|
Viking |
Best for fruit production in MT, red and orange fall color |
6-8’ |
5-6’ |
3 |
Jostaberry this thornless gooseberry/currant cross is extremely productive. The fruit is sweet, flavorful, high in vitamin C, and grows in clusters that are easy to pick. Upright plant that is 4-6’ tall, 4’wide and hardy to zone 3. Self-fertile.
American Hazelnut is not a consistent producer in our area due to the length of the season required to mature – harvest in September or October. It grows about 15-18’ tall and 10-12’ wide. Hazelnuts are dioecious, meaning an individual produces either male or female flowers. Plant at least 3 to increase your chances pollination.
Highbush American Cranberry Viburnum (V. trilobum) are hardy to zone 2 with beautiful white flower clusters and awesome fall color in reds and purples. They get about 8-12′ tall and wide. Their fruit is tart, excellent for jams and jellies. If left on the plant they will attract cedar waxwings in winter. Plant 2 or more for pollination.
American Plums is a MT native species hardy to Zone 2. It is a highly prolific species that produces about a quarter or half dollar sized fruit. They are grown from seed and can range between tart and sweet-tart. Left to their own devices they will form a sizeable tree. Produces on last year’s new growth, so pruning should be staggered throughout the plant to encourage fruiting. Although reported to be self-fruitful, we recommend adding another plum or using this as a pollinator for other plums in your orchard.