Cultivar 2270: Boreal Blizzard

Boreal Blizzard is a University of Saskatchewan haskap, or blue honeysuckle, in the Boreal series of Lonicera caerulea cultivars. It is described as a Japanese x Russian hybrid. Aurora is identified as its sibling. The fruit is very large and low in acidity. University of Saskatchewan material says the Boreal series combines Russian, Japanese, and Kuril Islands haskap germplasm to improve fruit size, flavour, later ripening, productivity, and machine harvest traits. [S2] [S3]

The available sources do not state its exact release year. A 2016 University of Saskatchewan sheet for Boreal Beauty says Boreal Beauty propagation was a year behind Boreal Blizzard, implying Boreal Blizzard was already further along by then. [S1]

The berries are Boreal Blizzard's main distinction. University of Saskatchewan sources give an average fruit weight of 2.8 g and a maximum of 3.9 g. They describe it as possibly the largest haskap variety, or the largest haskap cultivar on the market at the time of the poster. One handout says the berries are shaped like thick surfboards. The flavour is low acid and sweet, similar to Aurora. The breeding poster says Boreal Blizzard has about half the acidity of most haskap varieties. [S2] [S3]

At Saskatoon, Boreal Blizzard ripens in mid July. The University of Saskatchewan popular varieties handout classifies it as midseason. The breeding poster says it ripens one week after previous University of Saskatchewan cultivars, matching the Boreal series goal of extending the haskap season beyond earlier releases. [S2] [S3]

The plant is upright, similar to Aurora. Boreal Beast is recommended as a companion pollinizer. The broader Boreal series breeding work selected for vigour, general health, fruit size, flavour, productivity, later ripening, and machine harvest traits. These include firm fruit, even ripening, and fruit that holds strongly. [S2] [S3]

These sources do not give a direct zone rating for Boreal Blizzard. Its strongest geographic context is the University of Saskatchewan haskap breeding program at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The crop is also presented in a handout for northern gardens. [S2] [S3]

Boreal Blizzard belongs to the Boreal series, developed from diverse Lonicera caerulea germplasm. The breeding poster describes the source groups as Russian, Japanese, and Kuril Islands haskaps. Russian material contributed early, productive plants with long, thin berries. Japanese selections contributed thick midseason fruit and productive tall bushes. Kuril material contributed later ripening, thick fruit, fruit retention, sturdy bushes, and mildew resistance. Boreal Blizzard itself is identified as Japanese x Russian, and Aurora is noted as its sibling. [S2] [S3]

Summary source basis

• S1: ‘Boreal Beauty’
• S2: Recommended fruit Varieties
• S3: Breeding the Boreal Series of Haskap (Lonicera caerulea)

This summary currently draws chiefly from Breeding the Boreal Series of Haskap (Lonicera caerulea), with 2 additional supporting sources linked below.

Selected source quotations

“Boreal Blizzard (above) • J x Rhybrid • 2.8 g average fruit weight, largest fruit of any haskap cultivar on the market • 3.9 g max weight • Low acid • Ripens 1 week after previous Uof SK cultivars”
— Breeding the Boreal Series of Haskap (Lonicera caerulea), p1

“Boreal Blizzard: This variety has similar flavour to Aurora (its sibling) being low acid and sweet.”
— Recommended fruit Varieties, p1

“Propagation is a year behind ‘Boreal Blizzard’ so we expect this variety to be available to the public in 2017.”
— ‘Boreal Beauty’, p3

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Identified as a J x Rhybrid, interpreted from the page context as Japanese x Russian haskap hybrid.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• Boreal Blizzard (above) • J x Rhybrid • 2.8 g average fruit weight, largest fruit of any haskap cultivar on the market • 3.9 g max weight • Low acid • Ripens 1 week after previous Uof SK cultivarsBreeding the Boreal Series of Haskap (Lonicera caerulea), p1
• Boreal Blizzard (above) • J x Rhybrid • 2.8 g average fruit weight, largest fruit of any haskap cultivar on the market • 3.9 g max weight • Low acid • Ripens 1 week after previous Uof SK cultivarsBreeding the Boreal Series of Haskap (Lonicera caerulea), p1
• Boreal Blizzard (above) • J x Rhybrid • 2.8 g average fruit weight, largest fruit of any haskap cultivar on the market • 3.9 g max weight • Low acid • Ripens 1 week after previous Uof SK cultivarsBreeding the Boreal Series of Haskap (Lonicera caerulea), p1
• Boreal Blizzard (above) • J x Rhybrid • 2.8 g average fruit weight, largest fruit of any haskap cultivar on the market • 3.9 g max weight • Low acid • Ripens 1 week after previous Uof SK cultivarsBreeding the Boreal Series of Haskap (Lonicera caerulea), p1

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context