With many cultivars originating from Russia and Japan, these deciduous shrubs are regionally suited to throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere. Due to their incredible frost tolerance and extreme hardiness, Haskap plants have the potential to thrive in most Canadian regions as well as the northern part of the United States. Specifically, they can grow in plant hardiness zones of 1a and warmer. It has been reported that shrubs can resist temperatures of -46°C and flowers can survive freezing temperatures of -3°C to -5°C.
Haskap cultivars developed by the University of Saskatchewan and undergoing breeding by Phytocultures are highly adapted to North American climates and soil types and are tolerant of high humidity conditions in the Maritimes. New varieties are currently under development to leverage their commercial potential. We have received positive reports from growers with plantations in various regions, including eastern Newfoundland and the southern region of James Bay in Northern Ontario.
The native habitat of Haskap plants is in the Boreal region, with global distribution illustrated here.