Northern American nectar sources for honey bees

Huguenot Beekeepers Association Northern American nectar sources for honey bees

• The nectar resource in a given area depends on the kinds of flowering plants present and their blooming periods. Which kinds grow in an area depends on soil texture, soil pH, soil drainage, daily maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation, extreme minimum winter temperature, and growing degree days. The plants listed below grow in USDA Hardiness zone 5. A good predictor for when a plant will bloom and produce nectar is a calculation of the growing degree days. Hopkins' Bioclimatic Law states that in North America east of the Rockies, a 130 m (400-foot) increase in elevation, a 4° change in latitude north (444.48 km), or a 10° change in longitude east (two thirds of a time zone) will cause a biological event to occur four days later in the spring or four days earlier in the fall. In botany, the term phenology refers to the timing of flower emergence, sequence of bloom, fruiting, and leaf drop in autumn.

• The classification in major or minor nectar source is very dependent on the agricultural use of the land. An agricultural crop such as canola or alfalfa may be a major or minor source depending on local plantings. Generally, the more diverse a forage area is, the better for a stationary apiary. Urban, suburban and areas not under cultivation provide more consistent warm-season nectar forage than areas that are heavily cultivated with only a few agricultural crops. The nectar sources from large cultivated fields of blooming apples, cherries, canola, melons, sunflowers, clover etc. benefit a bee keeper who is willing to travel with his hives throughout the season.

• Honeydew sources are not included in this listing Source for honey Nonscientific Begin Bloom End Bloom Monofloral Plant type Scientific name Availability bees / pounds of name Month Month honey honey per acre

major but T Maple Acer 2 4 no feral temperature usually too cold major but temperature T Red Maple[1] Acer rubrum 2 4 no feral usually too cold for bees to fly

T Ohio Buckeye [2] Aesculus glabra 4 5 no feral minor Amelanchier S Shadbush 4 5 no feral minor arborea Devils- S, T Aralia spinosa 7 8 no feral minor walkingstick Aronia S Red Chokeberry arbutifolia, Photi 5 6 no feral minor nia pyrifolia Black Aronia S 5 6 no feral minor Chokeberry[3] melanocarpa Catalpa, Indian T Catalpa speciosa 6 7 no feral, ornamental minor Bean [2][3][4] Common S Celtis occidentalis 4 5 no feral minor Hackberry Honey is light in Cephalanthus S Buttonbush [2] 7 8 color and mild in feral occidentalis flavor. minor - 50 - 100 S Hawthorn Crataegus 4 5 no feral pounds/acre S Honeysuckle [2] Diervilla lonicera 6 8 minor Gleditsia T Honey Locust 5 6 no feral minor triancanthos minor, important S American Holly Ilex opaca 4 6 no feral in southeastern US major in yes, Liriodendron southern Appalac T Tulip-tree[5] 5 6 see Monofloral feral tulipifera hians and Piedmo honey nt No, the nectar is mostly used for spring brood raising and not T Apple[3] Malus domestica 4 5 cultivated minor stored for surplus. see Monofloral honey[4] Malus T Crab Apple sylvestris; Malus 3 6 no ornamental minor coronaria [2] T Cherry [2][3] Prunus cerasus 4 5 no feral, cultivated minor

T Pear Pyrus communis 4 5 no cultivated minor

T Black Cherry Prunus serotina 4 5 no feral, cultivated minor

T Plum Prunus 4 5 no feral, cultivated minor

Common Rhamnus S 5 6 no feral minor Buckthorn cathartica T Sumac[2] Rhus glabra 6 7 mixed with other honeys feral major major - 800 - 1200 pounds/; short T Black locust[3][4] Robinia pseudoacacia 5 6 yes, see Monofloral honey feral bloom period of about 10 days major in some S Raspberry Rubus 5 6 yes, see Monofloral honey feral, cultivated areas major in some S Blackberry Rubus spp. 5 6 yes, see Monofloral honey [2] feral, cultivated areas[3] major but outside temperatures are usually too cold for T Willow Salix 2 4 no feral, ornamental bees to fly. 100 - 150 pounds honey per acre; 1,500 pounds pollen major but temperature T Pussy Willow Salix discolor 3 4 no feral, ornamental usually too cold for bees to fly T Bee bee tree Tetradium 7 9 ornamental major

feral, ornamental Produces a yes, short flow up to 14 days; Honey high volume of honey on a cycle Tilia americana, Tilia major 800 - 1,100 T Basswood[3][4] 6 7 white; aromatic [2] see Monofloral of every five to eight years, with cordata pounds honey honey lower volume of nectar other years.

T American Elm Ulmus americana 2 4 no feral minor

minor in most Vaccinium areas. Strong corymbosum,Vaccinium no. Honey amber and of good S Blueberry 5 6 cultivated colonies may store angustifolium,Vaccinium flavor. 50-90 pounds of pennsylvanicum surplus from it.[2]

S Black haw[3] Viburnum prunifolium 5 6 Flowers, crops, herbs and grasses

Begin Bloom End Bloom Monofloral Source for Plant type Common name Latin name Availability Month Month honey honey bees Agstache F Anise hyssop[3] 7 10 no feral minor foeniculum

Blue bugle, Bugleherb, F Bugleweed, Ajuga reptans 5 5 Carpetweed, Common bugle[3]

Allium F Chives [3] 5 9 no cultivated minor schoenoprasum C, F Garlic chives Allium tuberosa 8 9 no cultivated minor Amorpha F Leadwort 6 7 no feral minor fruticosa

feral All species are great for major 120 - 250 honeybees. pounds honey, Nectar is so depending on Asclepiasspp. 55 abundant that it soil and if good F Milkweed [5][4] 7 8 species is possible to fertilizationAscle shake the pias syriaca has blossom and the highest actually see the honey yield. nectar fall.

Asclepias F Butterfly Weed[3] 7 8 no feral minor tuberosa Asparagus C Asparagus 5 6 no cultivated minor officinalis

F Milk Vetch Astragalus spp. 5 6 no feral minor

usually mixed F Aster Aster spp. 8 10 feral, ornamental major[3] with goldenrod [2]

minor, but can be major on cultivated area F Borage[3] Borago officinalis 6 10 no feral, ornamental 200 pounds honey per acre; 60-160 pounds pollen

Brassica arvenisi C, F Mustard[5] (L.);Brassica 4 5 no? cultivated minor? campestris

yes, Oilseed Brassica napus C 5 6 seeMonofloral cultivated major Rape(Canola) [3] L., Brassica rapa honey Calendula F Marigold 6 9 no ornamental minor officinalis

light honey of F Canada thistle Carduus arvensis good quality [2] F Thistle Centaureaspp. 7 9 no feral minor

Centaurea F Mountain Bluet Montana(Knapw 5 5 no?? feral major eed)

feral (invasive in F Creeping thistle Cirsium arvense 7 9 North America)

Sweet Autumn Clematis F 9 9 ornamental minor Clematis terniflora

Clethra F Clethra alnifolia 7 8 no feral minor Summersweet [3]

no; Honey is pale yellow or amber C, F Cucumber 6 9 cultivated minor with strong flavor.[2]

C Melon 6 10 no cultivated minor

C Pumpkin Cucurbita pepo 6 10 no cultivated minor

C, F Wild Carrot Daucus carota 8 9 no feral minor

Doronicumcordat F Leopardsbane 4 5 no feral minor um F Candytuft[3] Iberis sempervirens 5 5

feral In California, spring blooming plant with repeat bloom. Fall bloom provides nectar for bees for overwintering. The most unusual feature of Echium vulgare is the protection of the nectar inside the flower from vaporization (when it’s hot) Echium or flushing away (when it rains). It is why almost for 2 months major 300 - 1,000 vulgareEchium this plant is a stable source of nectar for bees. Additionally this pounds Viper's Bugloss, vulgareis most plant produces nectar throughout the day unlike most plants honey/acredepen F Blue thistle, Blue widely known, 6 8 no which produce nectar for a short period of time. If the bees ding on soil. 500- weed[3] though there are have a good access to Echium they can collect between 12- 2000 lbs of dark about 60 additional 20 lbs of nectar a day. The concentration of sugars in the blue pollen. species. nectar vary 22.6-48.3% depending on the quality of the soil, and not on the amount of rain. The honey is light amber in color and ver y fragrant with a pleasant taste, and does not crystallize for 9–15 months.[6]

F Globe Thistle Echinops ritro 8 8 feral major Epilobium F Fireweed 6 9 yes feral major angustifolium see Mon Erica vulgaris, oflor 100 - 200 pounds F Heather though many al honey varieties hon ey Eutrochium spp. "Eupatoriumspp.Eup Joe-Pye weed, atorium F Boneset, White purpureum;Eupatori 8 9 no feral minor Snakeroot [3] um perfoliatum;Eupatori um ageratoides can be; dark honey with Fagopyrum rarely cultivated C, F Buckwheat [3] 7 8 distinct flavor; minor esculentum now granulates quickly [5]

no. Honey is minor; Strong clear, heavy hives can collect F Blue vine Gonolobus laevis bodied of feral up to 100 excellent pounds.[2] flavor.[2]

C, F Soybean Glycine soja 7 10 cultivated major

Helianthus minor 30 - 100 C, F Sunflower 6 9 can be feral, cultivated annuus pounds/acre

C, F Basil Koellia no cultivated minor

minor but HenbitDeadnettl valuable due to F Lamium sp 3 5 no feral e earliness/frost hardiness

can be, Lavandula C, F Lavender 6 9 seeMonofloral cultivated minor angustifolia honey Birdsfoot Lotus F 6 8 no feral minor trefoil[3] corniculatus

White Sweet major up to 200 C, F Melilotus alba 5 8 yes feral, cultivated Clover[2][4] pounds per hive Yellow Sweet Melilotus major up to 200 C, F 5 8 yes feral, cultivated Clover[2][4] officinalis pounds per hive as clover honey. Alfalfa honey C, F Alfalfa[2][3] Medicago sativa 7 8 feral, cultivated major granulates readily.[2]

major - up to 500 Melilotus spp. C, F Clover[3] 5 8 as clover honey feral, cultivated pounds per acre and Trifoliumspp. in a good year [2]

Western USA - Prolonged bloom of 45 – 50 days generally in 150 - 250 pounds Melissa, Lemon summer, but with honey per acre; F Melissa officinalis Balm [2] repeat blooming 50-120 pounds in California. pollen Delicate honey with very light, pinkish color.

C, F Peppermint[4] Mentha piperita no feral Nepeta Catnip, Cat mussinii;Nepeta F 6 9 no feral, ornamental minor mint[2][3] grandiflora;Nepet a cataria F Oregano Origanum vulgare 6 9 no cultivated? minor Papaver minor - 20 - 30 C, F Poppy somniferum pounds /acre Perovskia F Russian Sage 7 9 can be ornamental minor atriplicifolia Western US - One of the best spring forage sources for 180 - 1,500 honeybees. pounds honey Blooms 45–60 per acre, days and Phacelia depending on C, F Phacelia, Tansy continuously tanacetifolia soil quality and produces nectar depth; 300-1000 throughout the pounds of day. Can be pollen.[6] seeded several times per year. Prefers three feet of topsoil.

F Smartweed Polygonum spp. 8 9 feral major F Selfheal Prunella vulgaris 7 8 no feral minor F Lungwort Pulmonaria spp. 5 5 no feral minor Appalachian Pycnanthemum F 8 10 minor Mountain Mint flexuosum Rhododendronsp F Azalea 6 8 no ornamental minor p. F Scrophularia Scrophulariaspp. 7 7 no feral minor Sedum, Autumn Sedum F Joy [3] spectabile can be; Honey golden color of deep amber; F Goldenrod[2] Solidago spp. 9 10 feral major marked flavor; granulates quickly Stachys F Woundwort 5 5 no feral minor byzantina F Chickweed [3] Stellaria Media 4 7 no feral minor

no Honey deep yellow will granulate Taraxacum F Dandelion 4 5 quickly; mostly feral major officinale consumed by bees during brood rearing [4]

Germander,Thy Teucrium F 7 8 no feral minor me canadense Thymus minor - 50 - 150 F Thyme pulegioides;Thym 6 7 no feral, cultivated pounds us serpyllum honey/acre Red-Flowering F Thymus praecox 6 7 feral? major Thyme

as clover honey. Alsike clover Trifolium honey is one of major, up to 500 C, F Alsike Clover [2] feral, cultivated hybridum the very best pounds/acre [3] honey plants in America.[2]

Trifolium C, F Crimson clover as clover honey feral, cultivated major [2] incarnatum Trifolium C, F Red Clover 6 7 as clover honey feral, cultivated major pratense as clover honey; The honey is white or nearly white; very mild flavored and C, F White Clover[5][4] Trifolium repens 6 7 feral, cultivated major does not granulate readily. seeMonofloral honey

Verbena hastata F Blue Vervain 7 8 no ornamental? minor L.

Vernonia F Tall Ironweed 8 9 no feral minor altissima

F Speedwell Veronica spicata 6 6 no feral minor

Tufted Vetch, F Common Vicia cracca 7 8 no feral minor Vetch[3]

F Common Vetch Vicia sativa 7 8 no feral minor

Viburnum F Blackhaw 5 6 no feral minor prunifolium