Flowers, Crops, Herbs and Grasses
| Plant type | Common name | Latin name | Begin Bloom Month | End Bloom Month | Monofloral honey | Availability | Source for honey bees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | Anise hyssop | Agstache foeniculum | 7 | 10 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Blue bugle, Bugleherb, Bugleweed, Carpetweed, Common bugle | Ajuga reptans | 5 | 5 | |||
| F | Chives | Allium schoenoprasum | 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 | Asclepias spp. 55 species | 7 | 8 | feral All species are great for honeybees. Nectar is so abundant that it is possible to shake the blossom and actually see the nectar fall. | major 120 - 250 pounds honey, depending on soil and if good fertilization Asclepias syriaca has the highest honey yield. | |
| F | Butterfly Weed | Asclepias tuberosa | 7 | 8 | no | feral | minor |
| C | Asparagus | Asparagus officinalis | 5 | 6 | no | cultivated | minor |
| F | Milk Vetch | Astragalus spp. | 5 | 6 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Aster | Aster spp. | 8 | 10 | usually mixed with goldenrod | feral, ornamental | major |
| F | Borage | Borago officinalis | 6 | 10 | no | feral, ornamental | minor, but can be major on cultivated area 200 pounds honey per acre; 60-160 pounds pollen |
| C, F | Mustard | Brassica arvenisi (L.); Brassica campestris | 4 | 5 | no? | cultivated | minor? |
| C | Oilseed Rape (Canola) | Brassica napus L., Brassica rapa | 5 | 6 | yes, see Monofloral honey | cultivated | major |
| F | Marigold | Calendula officinalis | 6 | 9 | no | ornamental | minor |
| F | Canada thistle | Carduus arvensis | light honey of good quality | ||||
| F | Thistle | Centaurea spp. | 7 | 9 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Mountain Bluet | Centaurea Montana (Knapweed) | 5 | 5 | no?? | feral | major |
| F | Creeping thistle | Cirsium arvense | 7 | 9 | feral (invasive in North America) | ||
| F | Sweet Autumn Clematis | Clematis terniflora | 9 | 9 | ornamental | minor | |
| F | Clethra Summersweet | Clethra alnifolia | 7 | 8 | no | feral | minor |
| C, F | Cucumber | 6 | 9 | no; Honey is pale yellow or amber with strong flavor. | cultivated | minor | |
| 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 |
| F | Leopardsbane | Doronicum cordatum | 4 | 5 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Candytuft | Iberis sempervirens | 5 | 5 | |||
| F | Viper's Bugloss, Blue thistle, Blue weed | Echium vulgare Echium vulgare is most widely known, though there are about 60 additional species. | 6 | 8 | no | 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 itβs hot) or flushing away (when it rains). It is why almost for 2 months this plant is a stable source of nectar for bees. Additionally this plant produces nectar throughout the day unlike most plants which produce nectar for a short period of time. If the bees have a good access to Echium they can collect between 12-20 lbs of nectar a day. The concentration of sugars in the 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 9β15 months. | major 300 - 1,000 pounds honey/acre depending on soil. 500-2000 lbs of dark blue pollen. |
| F | Globe Thistle | Echinops ritro | 8 | 8 | feral | major | |
| F | Fireweed | Epilobium angustifolium | 6 | 9 | yes | feral | major |
| F | Heather | Erica vulgaris, though many varieties | see Monofloral honey | 100 - 200 pounds honey | |||
| F | Joe-Pye weed, Boneset, White Snakeroot | Eutrochium spp. "Eupatorium spp. Eupatorium purpureum; Eupatorium perfoliatum; Eupatorium ageratoides | 8 | 9 | no | feral | minor |
| C, F | Buckwheat | Fagopyrum esculentum | 7 | 8 | can be; dark honey with distinct flavor; granulates quickly | rarely cultivated now | minor |
| F | Blue vine | Gonolobus laevis | no. Honey is clear, heavy bodied of excellent flavor. | feral | minor; Strong hives can collect up to 100 pounds. | ||
| C, F | Soybean | Glycine soja | 7 | 10 | cultivated | major | |
| C, F | Sunflower | Helianthus annuus | 6 | 9 | can be | feral, cultivated | minor 30 - 100 pounds/acre |
| C, F | Basil | Koellia | cultivated | no | minor | ||
| F | Henbit Deadnettle | Lamium sp | 3 | 5 | no | feral | minor but valuable due to earliness/frost hardiness |
| C, F | Lavender | Lavandula angustifolia | 6 | 9 | can be, see Monofloral honey | cultivated | minor |
| F | Birdsfoot trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | 6 | 8 | no | feral | minor |
| C, F | White Sweet Clover | Melilotus alba | 5 | 8 | yes | feral, cultivated | major up to 200 pounds per hive |
| C, F | Yellow Sweet Clover | Melilotus officinalis | 5 | 8 | yes | feral, cultivated | major up to 200 pounds per hive |
| C, F | Alfalfa | Medicago sativa | 7 | 8 | as clover honey. Alfalfa honey granulates readily. | feral, cultivated | major |
| C, F | Clover | Melilotus spp. and Trifolium spp. | 5 | 8 | as clover honey | feral, cultivated | major - up to 500 pounds per acre in a good year |
| F | Melissa, Lemon Balm | Melissa officinalis | Western USA - Prolonged bloom of 45 β 50 days generally in summer, but with repeat blooming in California. Delicate honey with very light, pinkish color. | 150 - 250 pounds honey per acre; 50-120 pounds pollen | |||
| C, F | Peppermint | Mentha piperita | no | feral | |||
| F | Catnip, Cat mint | Nepeta mussinii; Nepeta grandiflora; Nepeta cataria | 6 | 9 | no | feral, ornamental | minor |
| F | Oregano | Origanum vulgare | 6 | 9 | no | cultivated? | minor |
| C, F | Poppy | Papaver somniferum | minor - 20 - 30 pounds /acre | ||||
| F | Russian Sage | Perovskia atriplicifolia | 7 | 9 | can be | ornamental | minor |
| C, F | Phacelia, Tansy | Phacelia tanacetifolia | Western US - One of the best spring forage sources for honeybees. Blooms 45β60 days and continuously produces nectar throughout the day. Can be seeded several times per year. Prefers three feet of topsoil. | 180 - 1,500 pounds honey per acre, depending on soil quality and depth; 300-1000 pounds of pollen. | |||
| 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 | Appalachian Mountain Mint | Pycnanthemum flexuosum | 8 | 10 | minor | ||
| F | Azalea | Rhododendron spp. | 6 | 8 | no | ornamental | minor |
| F | Scrophularia | Scrophularia spp. | 7 | 7 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Sedum, Autumn Joy | Sedum spectabile | |||||
| F | Goldenrod | Solidago spp. | 9 | 10 | can be; Honey golden color of deep amber; marked flavor; granulates quickly | feral | major |
| F | Woundwort | Stachys byzantina | 5 | 5 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Chickweed | Stellaria Media | 4 | 7 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale | 4 | 5 | no Honey deep yellow will granulate quickly; mostly consumed by bees during brood rearing | feral | major |
| F | Germander, Thyme | Teucrium canadense | 7 | 8 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Thyme | Thymus pulegioides; Thymus serpyllum | 6 | 7 | no | feral, cultivated | minor - 50 - 150 pounds honey/acre |
| F | Red-Flowering Thyme | Thymus praecox | 6 | 7 | feral? | major | |
| C, F | Alsike Clover | Trifolium hybridum | as clover honey. Alsike clover honey is one of the very best honey plants in America. | feral, cultivated | major, up to 500 pounds/acre | ||
| C, F | Crimson clover | Trifolium incarnatum | as clover honey | feral, cultivated | major | ||
| C, F | Red Clover | Trifolium pratense | 6 | 7 | as clover honey | feral, cultivated | major |
| C, F | White Clover | Trifolium repens | 6 | 7 | as clover honey; The honey is white or nearly white; very mild flavored and does not granulate readily. see Monofloral honey | feral, cultivated | major |
| F | Blue Vervain | Verbena hastata L. | 7 | 8 | no | ornamental? | minor |
| F | Tall Ironweed | Vernonia altissima | 8 | 9 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Speedwell | Veronica spicata | 6 | 6 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Tufted Vetch, Common Vetch | Vicia cracca | 7 | 8 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Common Vetch | Vicia sativa | 7 | 8 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Blackhaw | Viburnum prunifolium | 5 | 6 | no | feral | minor |
Read more about this topic: Northern American Nectar Sources For Honey Bees
Famous quotes containing the words herbs and/or grasses:
“For like as herbs and trees bringen forth fruit and flourish in May, in likewise every lusty heart that is in any manner a lover, springeth and flourisheth in lusty deeds.”
—Thomas Malory (c. 1430–1471)
“The white man’s mullein soon reigned in Indian corn-fields, and sweet-scented English grasses clothed the new soil. Where, then, could the red man set his foot?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)