Northern American nectar sources for honey bees 1

Northern American nectar sources for honey bees

A honey bee collecting nectar from an apple flower.

The nectar source in a given area depends on the type ofvegetation present and the length of their bloom period. What typeof vegetation will grow in an area depends on soil texture, soil pH,soil drainage, daily maximum and minimum temperatures,precipitation, extreme minimum winter temperature, and growingdegree days. The plants listed below are plants that grow in USDAHardiness zone 5. A good predictor for when a plant will bloomand produce nectar is a calculation of the growing degree days.Hopkins' Bioclimatic Law [1] states that in North America east ofthe Rockies, a 130 m (400-foot) increase in elevation, a 4° changein latitude north (444.48 km), or a 10° change in longitude east(two thirdth of a time zone) will cause any given biological eventto occur four days later in the spring or four days earlier in the fall.In botany, the term phenology refers to the timing of floweremergence, 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. Agriculturalcrops like canola and alfalfa may be a major or minor source depending on local plantings. Generally, the morediverse a forage area is, the better for a stationary apiary. Urban, suburban and areas not under cultivation providemore consistent year-round nectar forage than areas that are heavily cultivated with a few agricultural crops. Thenectar sources from large cultivated fields of blooming apples, cherries, canola, melons, sun flowers, clover etc. areof benefit to a bee keeper who is willing to travel with his hives throughout the season.Honeydew sources are not included in this listing.

Trees and shrubs

Planttype

Common name Latin name BeginBloomMonth

EndBloomMonth

Monofloral honey Availability Source for honey bees/ pounds of honey per

acre

T Maple Acer 2 4 no feral major but temperatureusually too cold

T Red Maple[2] Acer rubrum [3] 2 4 no feral major but temperatureusually too cold forbees to fly

T Ohio Buckeye [4] Aesculus glabra [5] 4 5 no feral minor

S Shadbush Amelanchier arborea[6]

4 5 no feral minor

Devils-walkingstick Aralia spinosa [7] 7 8 no feral minor

S Red Chokeberry [8] Aronia arbutifolia[9], Photinia pyrifolia

5 6 no feral minor

S BlackChokeberry[10]

Aronia melanocarpa[11]

5 6 no feral minor

Northern American nectar sources for honey bees 2

T Catalpa, Indian Bean[4][10][12]

Catalpa speciosa [13] 6 7 no feral, ornamental minor

S Common Hackberry Celtis occidentalis[14]

4 5 no feral minor

S Buttonbush [4] Cephalanthusoccidentalis

7 8 Honey is light incolor and mild inflavor.

feral

S Hawthorn Crataegus [15] 4 5 no feral minor - 50 - 100pounds/acre

S Honeysuckle [4] Diervilla lonicera 6 8 minor

T Honey Locust Gleditsiatriancanthos [16]

5 6 no feral minor

S American Holly Ilex opaca [17] 4 6 no feral minor, important insoutheastern US

T Tulip-tree[18] Liriodendrontulipifera [19]

5 6 yes, see Monofloralhoney

feral major in southernAppalachians andPiedmont

T Apple[10] Malus domestica [20] 4 5 No, the nectar ismostly used forspring brood raisingand not stored forsurplus. seeMonofloralhoney[12]

cultivated minor

T Crab Apple Malus sylvestris [21];Malus coronaria [4]

3 6 no ornamental minor

T Cherry [4][10] 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

S Common Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica 5 6 no feral minor

T Sumac[4] Rhus glabra [22] 6 7 mixed with otherhoneys

feral major

T BlackLocust[10][12]

Robiniapseudoacacia [23]

5 6 yes, see Monofloralhoney

feral major - 800 - 1200pounds/; short bloomperiod of about 10 days

S Raspberry Rubus 5 6 yes, see Monofloralhoney

feral, cultivated major in some areas

S Blackberry Rubus spp. 5 6 yes, see Monofloralhoney [4]

feral, cultivated major in someareas[10]

T Willow Salix 2 4 no feral, ornamental major but outsidetemperatures areusually too cold forbees to fly. 100 - 150pounds honey per acre;1,500 pounds pollen

Northern American nectar sources for honey bees 3

T Pussy Willow Salix discolor 3 4 no feral, ornamental major but temperatureusually too cold forbees to fly

T Bee bee tree Tetradium 7 9 ornamental major

T Basswood[10][12] Tilia americana [24],Tilia cordata

6 7 yes, short flow up to14 days; Honeywhite; aromatic [4]

see Monofloralhoney

feral, ornamentalProduces a highvolume of honey on acycle of every five toeight years, with lowervolume of nectar otheryears.

major 800 - 1,100pounds honey

T American Elm Ulmus americana 2 4 no feral minor

S Blueberry Vacciniumcorymbosum,Vacciniumangustifolium,Vacciniumpennsylvanicum

5 6 no. Honey amberand of good flavor.

cultivated minor in most areas.Strong colonies maystore 50-90 pounds ofsurplus from it.[4]

S Black haw[10] Viburnumprunifolium

5 6

Flowers, crops, herbs and grasses

Planttype

Common name Latin name BeginBloomMonth

EndBloomMonth

Monofloralhoney

Availability Source forhoney bees

F Anise hyssop[10] Agstachefoeniculum

7 10 no feral minor

F Blue bugle,Bugleherb,Bugleweed,Carpetweed,Commonbugle[10]

Ajuga reptans 5 5

F Chives [10] Alliumschoenoprasum

5 9 no cultivated minor

C, F Garlic chives Allium tuberosa 8 9 no cultivated minor

F Leadwort Amorpha fruticosa 6 7 no feral minor

F Milkweed[18][12]

Asclepias [25]

spp. 55 species

7 8 feral All species are great for honeybees.Nectar is so abundant that it is possible toshake the blossom and actually see thenectar fall.

major 120 - 250pounds honey,depending on soiland if goodfertilizationAsclepias syriacahas the highesthoney yield.

F ButterflyWeed[10]

Asclepias tuberosa[26]

7 8 no feral minor

C Asparagus Asparagusofficinalis

5 6 no cultivated minor

Northern American nectar sources for honey bees 4

F Milk Vetch Astragalus spp. 5 6 no feral minor

F Aster Aster spp. 8 10 usually mixedwith goldenrod[4]

feral, ornamental major[10]

F Borage[10] Borago officinalis[27]

6 10 no feral, ornamental minor, but can bemajor oncultivated area200 poundshoney per acre;60-160 poundspollen

C, F Mustard[18] Brassica arvenisi(L.); Brassicacampestris

4 5 no? cultivated minor?

C Oilseed Rape(Canola) [10]

Brassica napus L.,Brassica rapa

5 6 yes, seeMonofloralhoney

cultivated major

F Marigold Calendulaofficinalis [28]

6 9 no ornamental minor

F Canada thistle Carduus arvensis light honey ofgood quality [4]

F Thistle Centaurea [29]

spp.

7 9 no feral minor

F Mountain Bluet CentaureaMontana(Knapweed)

5 5 no?? feral major

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

F Sweet AutumnClematis

Clematis terniflora 9 9 ornamental minor

F ClethraSummersweet[10]

Clethra alnifolia[30]

7 8 no feral minor

C, F Cucumber 6 9 no; Honey ispale yellow oramber withstrongflavor.[4]

cultivated minor

C Melon 6 10 no cultivated minor

C Pumpkin Cucurbita pepo[31]

6 10 no cultivated minor

C, F Wild Carrot Daucus carota[32]

8 9 no feral minor

F Leopardsbane[33]

Doronicumcordatum

4 5 no feral minor

F Candytuft[10] Iberissempervirens

5 5

Northern American nectar sources for honey bees 5

F Viper's Bugloss,Blue thistle, Blueweed [34][10]

Echium vulgare[35] Echiumvulgare is mostwidely known,though there areabout 60additional species.

6 8 no feral In California, spring blooming plantwith repeat bloom. Fall bloom providesnectar for bees for overwintering. Themost unusual feature of Echium vulgare isthe protection of the nectar inside theflower from vaporization (when it’s hot) orflushing away (when it rains). It is whyalmost for 2 months this plant is a stablesource of nectar for bees. Additionally thisplant produces nectar throughout the dayunlike most plants which produce nectarfor a short period of time. If the bees havea good access to Echium they can collectbetween 12-20 lbs of nectar a day. Theconcentration of sugars in the nectar vary22.6-48.3% depending on the quality of thesoil, and not on the amount of rain. Thehoney is light amber in color and ver yfragrant with a pleasant taste, and does notcrystallize for 9–15 months.[36]

major 300 -1,000 poundshoney/acredepending onsoil.500-2000 lbs ofdark blue pollen.

F Globe Thistle Echinops ritro[37]

8 8 feral major

F Fireweed Epilobiumangustifolium [38]

6 9 yes feral major

F Heather Erica vulgaris,though manyvarieties

see Monofloralhoney

100 - 200 poundshoney

F Joe-Pye weed,Boneset, WhiteSnakeroot [10]

Eutrochium spp."Eupatorium spp.Eupatoriumpurpureum;Eupatoriumperfoliatum;Eupatoriumageratoides

8 9 no feral minor

C, F Buckwheat [10] Fagopyrumesculentum

7 8 can be; darkhoney withdistinct flavor;granulatesquickly [18]

rarely cultivated now minor

F Blue vine [39] Gonolobus laevis no. Honey isclear, heavybodied ofexcellentflavor.[4]

feral minor; Stronghives can collectup to 100pounds.[4]

C, F Soybean Glycine soja 7 10 cultivated major

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

C, F Basil Koellia cultivated no minor

Northern American nectar sources for honey bees 6

F HenbitDeadnettle

Lamium sp 3 5 no feral minor butvaluable due toearliness/frosthardiness

C, F Lavender Lavandulaangustifolia

6 9 can be, seeMonofloralhoney

cultivated minor

F Birdsfoottrefoil[10]

Lotus corniculatus 6 8 no feral minor

C, F White SweetClover[4][12]

Melilotus alba 5 8 yes feral, cultivated major up to 200pounds per hive

C, F Yellow SweetClover[4][12]

Melilotusofficinalis

5 8 yes feral, cultivated major up to 200pounds per hive

C, F Alfalfa[4][10] Medicago sativa 7 8 as cloverhoney. Alfalfahoneygranulatesreadily.[4]

feral, cultivated major

C, F Clover[10] Melilotus spp. andTrifolium spp.

5 8 as clover honey feral, cultivated major - up to 500pounds per acrein a good year [4]

F Melissa, LemonBalm [4]

Melissa officinalis Western USA - Prolonged bloom of 45 –50 days generally in summer, but withrepeat blooming in California. Delicatehoney with very light, pinkish color.

150 - 250 poundshoney per acre;50-120 poundspollen

C, F Peppermint[12] Mentha piperita no feral

F Catnip, Cat mint[4][10]

Nepeta mussinii;Nepetagrandiflora;Nepeta cataria

6 9 no feral, ornamental minor

F Oregano Origanum vulgare 6 9 no cultivated? minor

C, F Poppy Papaversomniferum

minor - 20 - 30pounds /acre

F Russian Sage Perovskiaatriplicifolia

7 9 can be ornamental minor

C, F Phacelia, Tansy Phaceliatanacetifolia

Western US - One of the best spring foragesources for honeybees. Blooms 45–60 daysand continuously produces nectarthroughout the day. Can be seeded severaltimes per year. Prefers three feet of topsoil.

180 - 1,500pounds honey peracre, dependingon soil qualityand depth;300-1000 poundsof pollen.[36]

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

F AppalachianMountain Mint

Pycnanthemumflexuosum

8 10 minor

Northern American nectar sources for honey bees 7

F Azalea Rhododendronspp.

6 8 no ornamental minor

F Scrophularia Scrophularia spp. 7 7 no feral minor

F Sedum, AutumnJoy [10]

Sedum spectabile

F Goldenrod[4] Solidago spp. 9 10 can be; Honeygolden color ofdeep amber;marked flavor;granulatesquickly

feral major

F Woundwort Stachys byzantina 5 5 no feral minor

F Chickweed [10] Stellaria Media 4 7 no feral minor

F Dandelion Taraxacumofficinale

4 5 no Honey deepyellow willgranulatequickly; mostlyconsumed bybees doingbrood rearing[12]

feral major

F Germander,Thyme [40]

Teucriumcanadense

7 8 no feral minor

F Thyme Thymuspulegioides;Thymus serpyllum

6 7 no feral, cultivated minor - 50 - 150poundshoney/acre

F Red-FloweringThyme

Thymus praecox 6 7 feral? major

C, F Alsike Clover [4] Trifoliumhybridum

as cloverhoney. Alsikeclover honey isone of the verybest honeyplants inAmerica.[4]

feral, cultivated major, up to 500pounds/acre [10]

C, F Crimson clover Trifoliumincarnatum

as clover honey feral, cultivated major [4]

C, F Red Clover Trifolium pratense 6 7 as clover honey feral, cultivated major

C, F WhiteClover[18][12]

Trifolium repens 6 7 as cloverhoney; Thehoney is whiteor nearly white;very mildflavored anddoes notgranulatereadily. seeMonofloralhoney

feral, cultivated major

Northern American nectar sources for honey bees 8

F Blue Vervain Verbena hastataL.

7 8 no ornamental? minor

F Tall Ironweed Vernonia altissima 8 9 no feral minor

F Speedwell [41] Veronica spicata 6 6 no feral minor

F Tufted Vetch,CommonVetch[10]

Vicia cracca 7 8 no feral minor

F Common Vetch Vicia sativa 7 8 no feral minor

F Blackhaw Viburnumprunifolium

5 6 no feral minor

A honey bee on Sweet autumn clematis in September.

References[1] http:/ / www. sfiwc. org/ hopkins. html[2] Delaplane, Keith Pollination: Plants for

Year-round Bee Forage (http:/ / www. caes.uga. edu/ departments/ ent/ bees/ pollination/plants-year-round-forage. html) TheUniversity of Georgia College ofAgricultural & Environmental SciencesCooperative Extension; Service Bulletin1164; February 1998 (web accessed Nov2006)

[3] http:/ / dendro. cnre. vt. edu/ dendrology/syllabus/ factsheet. cfm?ID=1

[4] Pellett, Frank; American Honey Plants,American Bee Journal, Hamilton, Illinois,297 pages, 1920 (http:/ / books. google. com/books?id=JpllAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover& dq=American+Honey+ Plants& source=bl&ots=t4vgfkNWaG&sig=MVaesFKPN_CWwNEjgOIlOMboBQ& hl=en& ei=LaEfTKmlBY7onQf397ySDg& sa=X& oi=book_result& ct=result& resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage& q& f=false)

[5] http:/ / www. oplin. lib. oh. us/ tree/ fact%20pages/ buckeye_ohio/ buckeye_ohio. html[6] http:/ / dendro. cnre. vt. edu/ dendrology/ syllabus/ factsheet. cfm?ID=9[7] http:/ / dendro. cnre. vt. edu/ dendrology/ syllabus/ factsheet. cfm?ID=10[8] http:/ / www. ces. ncsu. edu/ depts/ hort/ consumer/ factsheets/ native/ aronia_arbutifolia. html[9] http:/ / www. carolinanature. com/ trees/ arar. html[10] Tew, James Some Ohio Nectar and Pollen Producing Plants (http:/ / ohioline. osu. edu/

Northern American nectar sources for honey bees 9

Honey bee on Sedum autumn joy (Hylotelephium telephium)

Two Bees on a Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense

hyg-fact/ 2000/ 2168. html) Ohio StateUniversity Extension Fact Sheet, 2000

[11] http:/ / www. ct-botanical-society. org/galleries/ photiniamela. html

[12][12] Lovell, John H. Honey plants of NorthAmerica; THE ROOT COMPANY, 1926

[13] http:/ / dendro. cnre. vt. edu/ dendrology/syllabus/ factsheet. cfm?ID=25

[14] http:/ / www. uwgb. edu/ biodiversity/herbarium/ trees/ celocc01. htm

[15] http:/ / dendro. cnre. vt. edu/ dendrology/syllabus/ factsheet. cfm?ID=45

[16] http:/ / www. eiu. edu/ ~grnhouse/campus_tour/ tree_27. htm

[17] http:/ / dendro. cnre. vt. edu/ dendrology/syllabus/ factsheet. cfm?ID=51

[18] Stahlman, Dana T. Honey Plants FloweringPlants Trees (http:/ / www. beeclass. com/dts/ master. htm) Ohio, 2004 (web accessedJun 2010)

[19] http:/ / www. cas. vanderbilt. edu/bioimages/ species/ litu. htm

[20] http:/ / plants. bees. net/ gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=rosaceae&id=photo_Malus_domestica_ida_red

[21] http:/ / www. bomengids. nl/ uk/ soorten/Appel__Malus_sylvestris__Apple. html

[22] http:/ / dendro. cnre. vt. edu/ dendrology/syllabus/ factsheet. cfm?ID=80

[23] http:/ / www. u46. k12. il. us/ shs/aldeellen/ 6345. htm

[24] http:/ / dendro. cnre. vt. edu/ dendrology/syllabus/ factsheet. cfm?ID=88

[25] http:/ / www. fcps. k12. va. us/StratfordLandingES/ Ecology/ mpages/common_milkweed. htm

[26] http:/ / www. missouriplants. com/ Redalt/Asclepias_tuberosa_page. html

[27] http:/ / www. robsplants. com/ plants/BoragOffic. php

[28] http:/ / www. floridata. com/ ref/ C/cale_off. cfm

[29] http:/ / www. rbgkew. org. uk/ msbp/ expo/centaurea. html

[30] http:/ / www. botany. wisc. edu/ garden/db/ speciesdetail.asp%3Fgenus%3DClethra%26species%3Dalnifolia

[31] http:/ / plants. usda. gov/ java/profile?symbol=CUPE

[32] http:/ / www. missouriplants. com/Whitealt/ Daucus_carota_page. html

[33] http:/ / lyndalegarden. com/ perennials/ D/doronicum_leopardbane. html

[34] http:/ / plants. usda. gov/ java/ profile?& symbol=ECVU[35] http:/ / www. bbc. co. uk/ gardening/ plants/ plant_finder/ plant_pages/ 10550. shtml

Northern American nectar sources for honey bees 10

[36] Top Five" Plants for Honeybees (http:/ / www. themelissagarden. com/ TMG_Vetaley031608. htm) (accessed Sep 2009)[37] http:/ / www. bbc. co. uk/ gardening/ plants/ plant_finder/ plant_pages/ 7607. shtml[38] http:/ / montana. plant-life. org/ species/ epilob_angus. htm[39] http:/ / plants. usda. gov/ java/ profile?symbol=ECVU[40] http:/ / plants. usda. gov/ java/ profile?symbol=ECVUSilver[41] http:/ / www. uky. edu/ Ag/ Horticulture/ gardenflowers/ uazz. htm

Article Sources and Contributors 11

Article Sources and ContributorsNorthern American nectar sources for honey bees  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=542320470  Contributors: Alan Liefting, Arch dude, Cadfaell, Choess, Cooke, Cwilsonc,Dyanega, Dysmorodrepanis, Edgar181, First Light, GameKeeper, Grandia01, Iamunknown, J.P.Lon, Jaguarlaser, Jay1279, Keenan Pepper, Lightdarkness, Lightmouse, Look2See1, LucianSunday, Neophyrigian, Niceguyedc, Pekinensis, Pollinator, Princess Lirin, Ricardo Carneiro Pires, Rjwilmsi, S, SB Johnny, Salamurai, Shoefly, SlackerMom, YUL89YYZ, 6 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:Bee in flower.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bee_in_flower.jpg  License: unknown  Contributors: ComputerHotline, Fir0002, Gveret Tered, Kersti Nebelsiek,MPF, Maksim, Quadell, 1 anonymous editsImage:Bee on clematis.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bee_on_clematis.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Shoefly (talk) (Uploads)Image:Honey bee on sedum.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Honey_bee_on_sedum.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0  Contributors: ShoeflyImage:Cirsium arvense with Bees Richard Bartz.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Cirsium_arvense_with_Bees_Richard_Bartz.jpg  License: Creative CommonsAttribution-Sharealike 2.5  Contributors: Richard Bartz, Munich aka Makro Freak

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