A melliferous flower is a plant which produces substances that can be collected by insects and turned into honey. Many plants are melliferous, but only certain examples can be harvested by honey bees, because of their physiognomy (body size and shape, length of proboscis, etc.). Apiculture classifies a plant as melliferous if it can be harvested by domesticated honey bees.
The table below lists some of the known melliferous plants, and indicates the flowering period, as well as the resources harvested by bees (nectar, pollen, propolis, and honeydew). Each plant does not produce the same quantity or quality of these resources, and even among species the production can vary due to region, plant health, climate, etc.
Plant table Plains plants
Image Common name Latin name Flowering months Nectar Pollen Propolis Honeydew Black locustRobinia pseudacacia05–06XX..Corn poppyPapaver rhoeas04–05.X..Common dogwoodCornus sanguinea05–06XX..RibesRibes rubrum04–05XX..European hollyIlex aquifolium05–06XX..European ivyHedera helix09–10XXX.White mustardSinapis alba05–09XX..HazelCorylus avellana01–03.X.XDandelionTaraxacum officinale05–06XX..Goat willowSalix caprea02–04XX..White cloverTrifolium repens05–07XX..Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara02–04.X..
Mediterranean plants
Image Common name Latin name Flowering months Nectar Pollen Propolis HoneydewAlmondPrunus dulcis02–04XX..Strawberry treeArbutus unedo10–01X...BuxusBuxus sempervirens04–05XX..Viburnum tinusViburnum tinus02–06XX..RosemaryRosmarinus officinalis11–04XX..ThymeThymus vulgaris04–09X...
Mountain plants
Image Common name Latin name Flowering months Nectar Pollen Propolis Honeydew Garden angelicaAngelica sylvestris07–08XX..Wolf's baneArnica montana07–08XX..EricaErica cinerea07–09XX..CallunaCalluna vulgaris08–10XX..Sweet chestnutCastanea sativa06–07XX.XMilk thistleSilybum marianum07–08XX..FireweedEpilobium angustifolium07–09XX..SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus03–04XXXXNorway mapleAcer platanoides05–06XX.X RaspberryRubus idaeus06–07XX..Great yellow gentianGentiana lutea07–08XX..HelleboreHelleborus niger01–04XX..BoxthornLycium barbarum07–08XX..BlueberryVaccinium myrtillus05–06XX..SnowdropGalanthus nivalis01–03XX..RhododendronRhododendron ferrugineum06–08XX..Silver firAbies alba05.X.XSavorySatureja montana07–08X...Wild thymeThymus serpyllum06–09X...RowanSorbus aucuparia05–06XXX.
Cultured plants
Image Common name Latin name Flowering months Nectar Pollen Propolis HoneydewSunflowerHelianthus annuus07–08XX..LavenderLavandula intermedia06–07XX..
References