The nectar source in a given area depends on the type of vegetation present and the length of their bloom period. What type of 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 growing degree days. The plants listed below are plants that 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 thirdth of a time zone) will cause any given 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. Agricultural crops like canola and 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 year-round nectar forage than areas that are heavily cultivated with a few agricultural crops. The nectar sources from large cultivated fields of blooming apples, cherries, canola, melons, sun flowers, clover etc. are of benefit to a bee keeper who is willing to travel with his hives throughout the season.
Honeydew sources are not included in this listing.
Contents |
| Plant type | Common name | Latin name | Begin Bloom Month | End Bloom Month | Monofloral honey | Availability | Source for honey bees / pounds of honey per acre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T | Maple | Acer | 2 | 4 | no | feral | major but temperature usually too cold |
| T | Red Maple[1] | Acer rubrum | 2 | 4 | no | feral | major but temperature usually too cold for bees to fly |
| T | Ohio Buckeye [2] | Aesculus glabra | 4 | 5 | no | feral | minor |
| S | Shadbush | Amelanchier arborea | 4 | 5 | no | feral | minor |
| Devils-walkingstick | Aralia spinosa | 7 | 8 | no | feral | minor | |
| S | Red Chokeberry | Aronia arbutifolia, Photinia pyrifolia | 5 | 6 | no | feral | minor |
| S | Black Chokeberry[3] | Aronia melanocarpa | 5 | 6 | no | feral | minor |
| T | Catalpa, Indian Bean [2][3][4] | Catalpa speciosa | 6 | 7 | no | feral, ornamental | minor |
| S | Common Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | 4 | 5 | no | feral | minor |
| S | Buttonbush [2] | Cephalanthus occidentalis | 7 | 8 | Honey is light in color and mild in flavor. | feral | |
| S | Hawthorn | Crataegus | 4 | 5 | no | feral | minor - 50 - 100 pounds/acre |
| S | Honeysuckle [2] | Diervilla lonicera | 6 | 8 | minor | ||
| T | Honey Locust | Gleditsia triancanthos | 5 | 6 | no | feral | minor |
| S | American Holly | Ilex opaca | 4 | 6 | no | feral | minor, important in southeastern US |
| T | Tulip-tree[5] | Liriodendron tulipifera | 5 | 6 | yes, see Monofloral honey | feral | major in southern Appalachians and Piedmont |
| T | Apple[3] | Malus domestica | 4 | 5 | No, the nectar is mostly used for spring brood raising and not stored for surplus. see Monofloral honey[4] | cultivated | minor |
| T | Crab Apple | Malus sylvestris; Malus coronaria [2] | 3 | 6 | no | ornamental | minor |
| 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 |
| S | Common Buckthorn | Rhamnus cathartica | 5 | 6 | no | feral | minor |
| T | Sumac[2] | Rhus glabra | 6 | 7 | mixed with other honeys | feral | major |
| T | Black Locust[3][4] | Robinia pseudoacacia | 5 | 6 | yes, see Monofloral honey | feral | major - 800 - 1200 pounds/; short bloom period of about 10 days |
| S | Raspberry | Rubus | 5 | 6 | yes, see Monofloral honey | feral, cultivated | major in some areas |
| S | Blackberry | Rubus spp. | 5 | 6 | yes, see Monofloral honey [2] | feral, cultivated | major in some areas[3] |
| T | Willow | Salix | 2 | 4 | no | feral, ornamental | major but outside temperatures are usually too cold for bees to fly. 100 - 150 pounds honey per acre; 1,500 pounds pollen |
| T | Pussy Willow | Salix discolor | 3 | 4 | no | feral, ornamental | major but temperature usually too cold for bees to fly |
| T | Bee bee tree | Tetradium | 7 | 9 | ornamental | major | |
| T | Basswood[3][4] | Tilia americana, Tilia cordata | 6 | 7 | yes, short flow up to 14 days; Honey white; aromatic [2] see Monofloral honey | feral, ornamental Produces a high volume of honey on a cycle of every five to eight years, with lower volume of nectar other years. | major 800 - 1,100 pounds honey |
| T | American Elm | Ulmus americana | 2 | 4 | no | feral | minor |
| S | Blueberry | Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium pennsylvanicum | 5 | 6 | no. Honey amber and of good flavor. | cultivated | minor in most areas. Strong colonies may store 50-90 pounds of surplus from it.[2] |
| S | Black haw[3] | Viburnum prunifolium | 5 | 6 |
| Plant type | Common name | Latin name | Begin Bloom Month | End Bloom Month | Monofloral honey | Availability | Source for honey bees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | Blue bugle, Bugleherb, Bugleweed, Carpetweed, Common bugle[3] | Ajuga reptans | 5 | 5 | |||
| F | Chives [3] | Allium schoenoprasum | 5 | 9 | no | cultivated | minor |
| C | Asparagus | Asparagus officinalis | 5 | 6 | no | cultivated | minor |
| F | Milk Vetch | Astragalus spp. | 5 | 6 | no | feral | minor |
| C, F | Mustard[5] | Brassica arvenisi (L.); Brassica campestris | 4 | 5 | no? | cultivated | minor? |
| C | Oilseed Rape (Canola) [3] | Brassica napus L., Brassica rapa | 5 | 6 | yes, see Monofloral honey | cultivated | major |
| F | Mountain Bluet | Centaurea Montana (Knapweed) | 5 | 5 | no?? | feral | major |
| F | Leopardsbane | Doronicum cordatum | 4 | 5 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Candytuft[3] | Iberis sempervirens | 5 | 5 | |||
| F | Henbit Deadnettle | Lamium sp | 3 | 5 | no | feral | minor but valuable due to earliness/frost hardiness |
| C, F | White Sweet Clover[2][4] | Melilotus alba | 5 | 8 | yes | feral, cultivated | major up to 200 pounds per hive |
| C, F | Yellow Sweet Clover[2][4] | Melilotus officinalis | 5 | 8 | yes | feral, cultivated | major up to 200 pounds per hive |
| C, F | Phacelia, Tansy | Phacelia tanacetifolia | Western US - One of the best spring forage sources for honeybees. Blooms 45–60 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.[6] | |||
| F | Lungwort | Pulmonaria spp. | 5 | 5 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Woundwort | Stachys byzantina | 5 | 5 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Chickweed [3] | Stellaria Media | 4 | 7 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Dandelion | Taraxicum officinale | 4 | 5 | no Honey deep yellow will granulate quickly; mostly consumed by bees doing brood rearing [4] | feral | major |
| F | Speedwell | Veronica spicata | 6 | 6 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Blackhaw | Viburnum prunifolium | 5 | 6 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Anise hyssop[3] | Agstache foeniculum | 7 | 10 | no | feral | minor |
| C, F | Garlic chives | Allium tuberosa | 8 | 9 | no | cultivated | minor |
| Leadwort | Amorpha fruticosa | 6 | 7 | no | feral | minor | |
| Milkweed [5][4] | 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. | ||
| Butterfly Weed[3] | Asclepias tuberosa | 7 | 8 | no | feral | minor | |
| Aster | Asteraceae spp. | 8 | 9 | no | feral, ornamental | can be major | |
| Borage[3] | Borago officinalis | 6 | 10 | no | feral, ornamental | minor, but can be major on cultivated area 200 pounds honey per acre; 60-160 pounds pollen | |
| Marigold | Calendula officinalis | 6 | 9 | no | ornamental | minor | |
| Canada thistle | Carduus arvensis | light honey of good quality [2] | |||||
| Thistle | Centaurea spp. | 7 | 9 | no | feral | minor | |
| Creeping thistle | Cirsium arvense | 7 | 9 | feral (invasive in North America) | |||
| Clethra Summersweet [3] | Clethra alnifolia | 7 | 8 | no | feral | minor | |
| Cucumber | Cucumis spp. | 6 | 9 | no; Honey is pale yellow or amber with strong flavor.[2] | cultivated | minor | |
| Melon | Cucumis melo | 6 | 10 | no | cultivated | minor | |
| Pumpkin | Cucurbita pepo | 6 | 10 | no | cultivated | minor | |
| Wild Carrot | Daucus carota | 8 | 9 | no | feral | minor | |
| Blue thistle, Viper's bugloss Blue weed[3] | 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 it’s 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 9–15 months.[6] | major 300 - 1,000 pounds honey/acre depending on soil. 500-2000 lbs of dark blue pollen. | |
| Globe Thistle | Echinops ritro | 8 | 8 | feral | major | ||
| Fireweed | Epilobium angustifolium | 6 | 9 | yes | feral | major | |
| Joe-Pye weed, Boneset, White Snakeroot [3] | Eutrochium spp. "Eupatorium spp. Eupatorium purpureum; Eupatorium perfoliatum; Eupatorium ageratoides | 8 | 9 | no | feral | minor | |
| Buckwheat [3] | Fagopyrum esculentum | 7 | 8 | can be; dark honey with distinct flavor; granulates quickly [5] | rarely cultivated now | minor | |
| Blue vine | Gonolobus laevis | no. Honey is clear, heavy bodied of excellent flavor.[2] | feral | minor; Strong hives can collect up to 100 pounds.[2] | |||
| Soybean | Glycine soja | 7 | 10 | cultivated | major | ||
| Sunflower | Helianthus annuus | 6 | 9 | can be | feral, cultivated | minor 30 - 100 pounds/acre | |
| Basil | Koellia | cultivated | no | minor | |||
| Lavender | Lavandula angustifolia | 6 | 9 | can be, see Monofloral honey | cultivated | minor | |
| Birdsfoot trefoil[3] | Lotus corniculatus | 6 | 8 | no | feral | minor | |
| Alfalfa[2][3] | Medicago sativa | 7 | 8 | as clover honey. Alfalfa honey granulates readily.[2] | feral, cultivated | major | |
| Clover[3] | Melilotus spp. and Trifolium spp. | 5 | 8 | as clover honey | feral, cultivated | major - up to 500 pounds per acre in a good year [2] | |
| F | Melissa, Lemon Balm [2] | Melissa officinalis | Western USA - Prolonged bloom of 45 – 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[4] | Mentha piperita | no | feral | |||
| F | Catnip, Cat mint [2][3] | 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 |
| F | Smartweed | Polygonum spp. | 8 | 9 | feral | major | |
| F | Selfheal | Prunella vulgaris | 7 | 8 | no | feral | minor |
| F | Azalea | Rhododendron spp. | 6 | 8 | no | ornamental | minor |
| F | Scrophularia | Scrophularia spp. | 7 | 7 | no | feral | minor |
| 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 [2] | Trifolium hybridum | as clover honey. Alsike clover honey is one of the very best honey plants in America.[2] | feral, cultivated | major, up to 500 pounds/acre [3] | ||
| C, F | Crimson clover | Trifolium incarnatum | as clover honey | feral, cultivated | major [2] | ||
| C, F | Red Clover | Trifolium pratense | 6 | 7 | as clover honey | feral, cultivated | major |
| C, F | White Clover[5][4] | 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 |
| Tall Ironweed | Vernonia altissima | 8 | 9 | no | feral | minor | |
| Tufted Vetch, Common Vetch[3] | Vicia cracca | 7 | 8 | no | feral | minor | |
| Common Vetch | Vicia sativa | 7 | 8 | no | feral | minor | |
| Aster | Aster spp. | 9 | 10 | usually mixed with goldenrod [2] | feral, ornamental | major[3] | |
| Sweet Autumn Clematis | Clematis terniflora | 9 | 9 | ornamental | minor | ||
| Heather | Erica vulgaris, though many varieties | see Monofloral honey | 100 - 200 pounds honey | ||||
| Appalachian Mountain Mint | Pycnanthemum flexuosum | 8 | 10 | minor | |||
| Sedum, Autumn Joy [3] | Sedum spectabile | ||||||
| Goldenrod[2] | Solidago spp. | 9 | 10 | can be; Honey golden color of deep amber; marked flavor; granulates quickly | feral | major |