List of crop plants pollinated by bees

This is a list of crop plants pollinated by bees along with how much crop yield is improved by bee pollination. Most of them are pollinated in whole or part by honey bees and by the crop's natural pollinators such as bumblebees, orchard bees, squash bees, and solitary bees. Where the same plants have non-bee pollinators such as birds or other insects like flies, these are also indicated.

Pollination by insects is called entomophily. Entomophily is a form of plant pollination whereby pollen is distributed by insects, particularly bees, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), flies and beetles. Honey bees pollinate many plant species that are not native to their natural habitat but are often inefficient pollinators of such plants; if they are visiting ten different species of flower, only a tenth of the pollen they carry may be the right species. Other bees tend to favor one species at a time, therefore do most of the actual pollination.

Most staple food grains, like wheat, rice, soybean, maize and sorghum, need no insect help at all; they are wind or self-pollinated. Other staple food crops, like bananas and plantains, are propagated from cuttings, and produce fruit without pollination (parthenocarpy). Further, foods such as root vegetables and leafy vegetables will produce a useful food crop without pollination, though pollination may be required for the purpose of seed production or breeding.

Common nameScientific namePollinatorCommercial product of pollinationPollinator impactNumber of honey bee hives per acreGeography of cultivationOkraAbelmoschus esculentusHoney bees (incl. Apis cerana), solitary bees (Halictus spp.) fruit2-modesttemperateKiwifruitActinidia deliciosaHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesfruit4-essentialPotatoSolanum tuberosumBumblebees, solitary beesseed1-littletemperate, tropicalOnionAllium cepaHoney bees, solitary bees, blow fliesseed1-littletemperate, tropicalCashewAnacardium occidentaleHoney bees, stingless bees, bumblebees, solitary bees (Centris tarsata), butterflies, flies, hummingbirdsnut3-greattropicalCeleryApium graveolensHoney bees, solitary bees, fliesseedtemperateStrawberry treeArbutus unedoHoney bees, bumblebeesfruit2-modestCarambola, starfruitAverrhoa carambolaHoney bees, stingless beesfruit3-greattropicalBrazil nutBertholletia excelsaBumblebees, orchid bees, carpenter beesnut4-essentialequatorialBeetBeta vulgarisHover flies, honey bees, solitary beesseed1-littletemperateMustardBrassica alba, Brassica hirta, Brassica nigraHoney bees, solitary bees (Osmia cornifrons, Osmia lignaria)seed2-modesttemperateRapeseedBrassica napusHoney bees, solitary beesseed2-modesttemperateBroccoliBrassica oleracea cultivarHoney bees, solitary beesseed1-littletemperateCauliflowerBrassica oleracea Botrytis Group Honey bees, solitary beesseed1-littletemperateCabbageBrassica oleracea Capitata GroupHoney bees, solitary beesseed1-littletemperateBrussels sproutsBrassica oleracea Gemmifera GroupHoney bees, solitary beesseed1-littletemperateChinese cabbageBrassica rapaHoney bees, solitary beesseed1-littletemperateTurnip, canolaBrassica rapaHoney bees, solitary bees (Andrena ilerda, Osmia cornifrons, Osmia lignaria, Halictus spp.), fliesseed3-great1temperatePigeon pea, Cajan pea, Congo beanCajanus cajanHoney bees, solitary bees (Megachile spp.), carpenter beesseed1-littleJack bean, horse bean, sword beanCanavalia spp.Solitary bees, carpenter bees (Xylocopa confusa)seed2-modestChili pepper, red pepper, bell pepper, green pepperCapsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescensHoney bees, stingless bees (Melipona spp.), bumblebees, solitary bees, hover fliesfruit1-little (pollinators important in green houses to increase fruit weight, but less in open fields)PapayaCarica papayaHoney bees, thrips, large sphinx moths, moths, butterfliesfruit1-littleSafflowerCarthamus tinctoriusHoney bees, solitary beesseed1-littleCarawayCarum carviHoney bees, solitary bees, fliesseed2-modest1temperateChestnutCastanea sativaHoney bees, solitary beesnut2-modestsub-tropical, Mediterranean or temperateWatermelonCitrullus lanatusHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesfruit4-essential1-3temperateTangerineCitrus tangerinaHoney bees, bumblebeesfruit1-littlesub-tropicalOrange, grapefruit, tangeloCitrus spp.Honey bees, bumblebeesfruit1-littlesub-tropicalCoconutCocos nuciferaHoney bees, stingless beesnut2-modesttropicalCoffeeCoffea spp.Honey bees, stingless bees, solitary beesfruit2-modesttropicalCorianderCoriandrum sativumHoney bees, solitary beesseed3-greatCrownvetchCoronilla varia L.Honey bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseed (increased yield from pollinators)temperateAzaroleCrataegus azarolusHoney bees, solitary beesfruit1-littleCantaloupe, melonCucumis melo L.Honey bees, squash bees, bumblebees, solitary bees (Ceratina spp.)fruit4-essential2-4temperateCucumberCucumis sativusHoney bees, squash bees, bumblebees, leafcutter bee (in greenhouse pollination), solitary bees (for some parthenocarpic gynoecious green house varieties pollination is detrimental to fruit quality)fruit3-great1-2temperateSquash, pumpkin, gourd, marrow, zucchiniCucurbita spp.Honey bees, squash bees, bumblebees, solitary beesfruit4-essential1temperateGuar bean, Goa beanCyamopsis tetragonolobaHoney beesseed1-littleQuinceCydonia oblonga Mill.Honey beesfruittemperateLemonCitrus limonHoney bees (also will often self-pollinate)fruittemperateLimeCitrus limettaHoney bees (also will often self-pollinate)fruittemperateCarrotDaucus carotaFlies, solitary bees, honey beesseedtemperateHyacinth beanDolichos spp.Honey bees, solitary beesseed2-modestLonganDimocarpus longanHoney bees, stingless bees1-littlePersimmonDiospyros kaki, Diospyros virginianaHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesfruit1-littleCardamomElettaria cardamomumHoney bees, solitary bees3-greatLoquatEriobotrya japonicaHoney bees, bumblebeesfruit3-greatBuckwheatFagopyrum esculentumHoney bees, solitary beesseed3-great1temperateFeijoaFeijoa sellowianaHoney bees, solitary beesfruit3-greattropicalFennelFoeniculum vulgareHoney bees, solitary bees, fliesseed3-greattemperateStrawberryFragaria spp.Honey bees, stingless bees, bumblebees, solitary bees (Halictus spp.), hover fliesfruit2-modest1temperateCottonGossypium spp.Honey bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseed, fiber2-modestSunflowerHelianthus annuusBumblebees, solitary bees, honey beesseed2-modest1temperateFlaxLinum usitatissimumHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseed1-littletemperateLycheeLitchi chinensisHoney bees, fliesfruit1-littleLupineLupinus angustifoliusHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseedtemperateMacadamiaMacadamia ternifoliaHoney bees, stingless bees (Tetragonula carbonaria), solitary bees (Homalictus spp.), wasps, butterfliesnut4-essentialtropicalAcerolaMalpighia glabraHoney bees, solitary beesfruit (minor commercial value)AppleMalus domestica or Malus sylvestrisHoney bees, orchard mason bee, bumblebees, solitary bees (Andrena spp., Halictus spp., Osmia spp., Anthophora spp.), hover flies (Eristalis cerealis, Eristalis tenax)fruit3-great 1, 2 semi dwarf, 3 dwarftemperateMammee appleMammea americanaBeesfruit2-modesttropicalMangoMangifera indicaHoney bees, stingless bees, bumblebees, flies, ants, wasps, stinkbugs, beetles, flower thrips, fruit bats, windfruit3-greatsub-tropicalAlfalfaMedicago sativaAlfalfa leafcutter bee, alkali bee, honey beesseed1temperateRambutanNephelium lappaceumHoney bees, stingless bees, fliesfruit1-littletropicalprickly pearOpuntia spp.Bumblebees, solitary beesfruit2-modestSainfoinOnobrychis spp.Honey bees, solitary beesseedtemperatePassion fruitPassiflora edulisCarpenter bees, solitary bees, bumblebees, hummingbirdsfruit4-essentialtropicalAvocadoPersea americanaStingless bees, solitary bees, honey beesfruit3-greatLima bean, kidney bean, haricot bean, adzuki bean, mungo bean, string bean, green beanPhaseolus spp.Honey bees, solitary beesfruit, seed1-littleScarlet runner beanPhaseolus coccineus L.Bumblebees, honey bees, solitary bees, thripsseedAllspicePimenta dioicaHoney bees, solitary bees (Halictus spp., Exomalopsis spp., Ceratina spp.)fruit3-greatApricotPrunus armeniacaHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary bees, fliesfruit3-great1temperateSweet cherryPrunus avium spp.Honey bees, bumblebees, solitary bees, fliesfruit3-greattemperateSour cherryPrunus cerasusHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary bees, fliesfruit3-greattemperatePlum, greengage, mirabelle, sloePrunus domestica, Prunus spinosaHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary bees, fliesfruit3-great1temperateAlmondPrunus dulcis, Prunus amygdalus, or Amygdalus communis Honey bees, bumblebees, solitary bees (Osmia cornuta), fliesnut3-great2-3temperatePeach, nectarinePrunus persicaHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary bees, fliesfruit3-great1temperateGuavaPsidium guajavaHoney bees, stingless bees, bumblebees, solitary bees (Lasioglossum spp.)fruit2-modesttropicalPomegranatePunica granatumHoney bees, solitary bees, beetles fruit2-modestPearPyrus communisHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary bees, hover flies (Eristalis spp.)fruit3-great1temperateBlack currant, red currantRibes nigrum, Ribes rubrumHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesfruit2-modesttemperateRose hips, dogrosesRosa spp.Honey bees, bumblebees, carpenter bees, solitary bees, hover flies3-greattemperateBoysenberryRubus spp.Honey bees, bumblebees, solitary beesfruittemperateRaspberryRubus idaeusHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary bees, hover flies (Eristalis spp.)fruit3-great1temperateBlackberryRubus fruticosusHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary bees, hover flies (Eristalis spp.)fruit3-greattemperateElderberrySambucus nigraHoney bees, solitary bees, flies, longhorn beetlesfruit2-modesttemperateSesameSesamum indicumHoney bees, solitary bees, wasps, fliesseed2-modestEggplantSolanum melongenaBumblebees, solitary beesfruit2-modest (pollinators important in green houses, but less in open fields)temperateNaranjillaSolanum quitoenseBumblebees, solitary beesfruit3-greattropicalRowanberrySorbus aucupariaHoney bees, solitary bees, bumblebees, hover fliesfruit4-essentialtemperateService treeSorbus domesticaBees, fliesfruit2-modestHog plumSpondias spp.Honey bees, stingless bees (Melipona spp.)fruit1-littleTamarindTamarindus indicaHoney bees (incl. Apis dorsata)fruit1-littleClover (not all species)Trifolium spp.Honey bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseed1temperateWhite cloverTrifolium albaHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseed1temperateAlsike cloverTrifolium hybridum L.Honey bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseed1temperateCrimson cloverTrifolium incarnatumHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseed1Red cloverTrifolium pratenseHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseed1temperateArrowleaf cloverTrifolium vesiculosumHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseed1temperateBlueberryVaccinium spp.Alfalfa leafcutter bees, southeastern blueberry bee, bumblebees (Bombus impatiens), solitary bees (Anthophora pilipes, Colletes spp., Osmia ribifloris, Osmia lignaria), honey beesfruit3-great3-4temperateCranberryVaccinium oxycoccus, Vaccinium macrocarponBumblebees (Bombus affinis), solitary bees (Megachile addenda, alfalfa leafcutter bees), honey beesfruit3temperateBroad beanVicia fabaHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseed2-modestVetchVicia spp.Honey bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseedtemperateCowpea, black-eyed pea, blackeye beanVigna unguiculataHoney bees, bumblebees, solitary beesseed1-littleKarite, sheaVitellaria paradoxaHoney beesnut2-modesttemperateTomatoSolanum lycopersicumBumblebees, solitary bees (Halictus spp.)fruit2-modest (important for commercial crop yield)temperate, tropicalGrapeVitis spp.Honey bees, solitary bees, fliesfruit1-littletemperateJujubeZiziphus jujubaHoney bees, solitary bees, flies, beetles, waspsfruit2-modest

See also Fruit tree pollination Pollination management Pollinator Pollen source List of Northern American nectar sources for honey bees Forage (honey bee) List of honey plants Buckwheat

References

Pollination Mid-Atlantic Apicultural Research and Extension Consortium, MAAREC Publication 5.2; February 2000