R. H. Shumways

[Vance G]

I became enamoured of the idea of planting some honeyberry shrubs.  They are a member of the honeysuckle family and supposedly produce a blueberry like flavored berry.  I recieved a catalog from this Shumway outfit of whom I am totally unfamiliar.  Has anyone had any dealings with this supplier?  I see the plant in the Starks catalog, but I have had mediocre or worse results buying from them.  Is anyone familiar with honeyberries and are they even worth pursuing?  They are very pricey.  Anyone grow lingonberries?  Thanks.

[AllenF]

I have seen Shumways, never ordered, but am very familiar with Starks.   That is the only fruit tree "brand" my dad would pay for.   
I have never seen a honey berry. Have you tried blueberries?

[Vance G]

blueberries will not grow here.  You can't add enough acid to get acid soil here.   the honeyberry is one of those siberian things that are rare here.  My nurseryman friend got me all excited about them and then couldn't supply.  I am always trying something new. 

[BlueBee]

I’ve seen those “honeyberry” plants in the catalogs for a few years now.  I’ve been tempted to try them, but I haven’t bought any yet.  I see them in my Miller nursery catalog and Farmer Seed catalog.  I could have sworn I’ve seen them in Gurney’s too, but I haven’t gotten any of their dozen’s of spring catalogs yet.  I’ve ordered from all 3 of those outfits before and don’t have any major complaints with any of them.  Looks like they want $12 to $18 per plant in my catalogs.  Seems a little high priced, indeed.  Maybe they're hard to propagate or under patent protection?  

[BlueBee]

I bought some beach plums from Millers 2 springs ago.  They didn’t do much the first summer, but boy did they ever take off last summer.  Kind of didn’t expect a “beach” plum to grow well in Michigan, but they sure have.  I’m anxious to see what they taste like if I have fruit this year.  Late frost killed many cherry blossoms last year.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_maritima