BARBALETA is a mid-early cultivar of honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) characterized by compact growth and medium bush density, reaching up to 1.1 m in height. The bushes have an inverse-conical shape, with thick, straight, reddish-brown, and pubescent canes. Leaves are of medium size, green in color, elongated-ovate in shape with a convex lamina and semi-oval stipules.
The cultivar's berries are large, flask-shaped, with slightly rounded tops and bases. Their color is blue-gray with a strong waxy bloom; the skin is of medium density, while the pulp is juicy, sweet, and without bitterness. The average berry weight is about 1.1 grams, making them convenient for fresh consumption or in the preparation of desserts. The taste combines sour-sweet notes with a bright aroma.
The cultivar is resistant to temperature fluctuations in the winter period and is not damaged by spring return frosts, and also shows resistance to aphid infestation. Berries ripen in the third decade of June, after flowering begins in the beginning of the second decade of May. Thanks to self-incompatibility, yield increases in the presence of a nearby pollinator. The berries contain a rich complex of biologically active substances: vitamin C, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid, and trace elements, which makes them beneficial for health.
