The nectar resource in a given area depends on the kinds of flowering plants present and their blooming periods. Which kinds 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 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-thirds of a time zone) will cause a 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 sources is very dependent on the agricultural use of the land. An agricultural crop such as canola or 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 uncultivated areas provide more consistent warm-season nectar forage than areas that are heavily cultivated with only a few agricultural crops. The nectar sources from large cultivated fields of blooming apples, cherries, canola, melons, sunflowers, clover, etc. benefit 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
Plant typeNonscientific nameScientific nameBegin Bloom MonthEnd Bloom MonthMonofloral honeyAvailabilitySource for honey bees / pounds of honey per acre TMapleAcer15noferalmajor but temperature usually too cold TRed mapleAcer rubrum15noferalmajor but temperature usually too cold for bees to flyTOhio buckeyeAesculus glabra45noferalminorSShadbushAmelanchier arborea45noferalminor, or major depending on location and weather.S, TDevil's walkingstickAralia spinosa78noferalminorSRed ChokeberryAronia arbutifolia, Photinia pyrifolia56noferalminorSBlack chokeberryAronia melanocarpa 56noferalminorTCatalpa, Indian beanCatalpa speciosa67noferal, ornamentalminorSCommon hackberryCeltis occidentalis 45noferalminorSButtonbushCephalanthus occidentalis78Honey is light in color and mild in flavor.feralSHawthornCrataegus45noferalminor – 50–100 lb/acreSHoneysuckleDiervilla lonicera68minorTHoney locustGleditsia triacanthos56noferalminorSAmerican hollyIlex opaca46noferalminor, important in Southeastern USTTulip-tree, poplarLiriodendron tulipifera56yes, see Monofloral honeyferalmajor in southern Appalachians, select northern locations, and PiedmontTAppleMalus domestica 45No, the nectar is mostly used for spring brood-raising and not stored for surplus.cultivatedminorTCrabappleMalus sylvestris; Malus coronaria36noornamentalminorTCherryPrunus cerasus45noferal, cultivatedminor – 30 kg/haTPearPyrus communis45nocultivatedminorTBlack cherryPrunus serotina45noferal, cultivatedminor, can be major under the correct conditions/locationTPlumPrunus45noferal, cultivatedminorSCommon buckthornRhamnus cathartica56noferalminorTSumacRhus glabra67mixed with other honeysferalmajorTBlack locustRobinia pseudoacacia56yesferalmajor – 800–1200 lb/acre; short bloom period of about 10 daysSRaspberryRubus56yesferal, cultivatedmajor in some areasSBlackberryRubus spp.56yesferal, cultivatedmajor in some areasTWillowSalix24noferal, ornamentalmajor, but outside temperatures are usually too cold for bees to fly, 100–150 lb/acre; 1,500 lb pollenTPussy willowSalix discolor34noferal, ornamentalmajor but temperature usually too cold for bees to flyTBee bee treeTetradium79ornamentalmajorTBasswoodTilia americana, Tilia cordata67yes, short flow up to 14 days; white, aromatic honey see Monofloral honeyferal, ornamental, produces a high volume of honey on a cycle of every five to eight years, with lower volume of nectar other yearsmajor – 800–1,100 lb/acreTAmerican elmUlmus americana24noferalminorSBlueberryVaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium pennsylvanicum56no, honey amber and of good flavorcultivatedminor in most areas, very low quality pollen, strong colonies may store 50–90 lb of surplus from itSBlack hawViburnum prunifolium56TRedbudCercis44nocultivated, ornamentalminorTSourwoodOxydendrum arboreum67yesferalmajor
Flowers, crops, herbs, and grasses
Plant typeCommon nameLatin namePerennial/annualBegin bloom monthEnd bloom monthMonofloral honeyAvailabilityNectar productionFAnise hyssopAgastache foeniculumPerennial710noferalminor (1858–2787 kg/ha)FBlue bugle, bugleherb, bugleweed, carpetweed, common bugleAjuga reptansPerennial56feralminorFChivesAllium schoenoprasumPerennial59nocultivatedminorC, FGarlic chivesAllium tuberosaPerennial89nocultivatedminorFLeadwortAmorpha fruticosaPerennial67noferalminorFMilkweedAsclepias spp. 55 speciesPerennial78feral, all species are great for honeybees, nectar is so abundant that shaking the blossoms allows visible nectar fallmajor – 120–250 lb/acre, depending on soil and if good fertilization, Asclepias syriaca has the highest honey yield.FButterfly weedAsclepias tuberosa Perennial78noferalminorCAsparagusAsparagus officinalisPerennial56nocultivatedminorFMilk vetchAstragalus spp.Perennial56noferalminorFAsterAster spp.Perennial810usually mixed with goldenrodferal, ornamentalmajorFBorageBorago officinalisAnnual610noferal, ornamentalminor, but can be major on cultivated area, 200 lb/acre honey, 60–160 lb pollenC, FMustardBrassica arvenisisAnnual45no?cultivatedminorCOil rapeseed (canola)Brassica napus L., Brassica rapaAnnual56yescultivatedmajorFMarigoldCalendula officinalisAnnual69noornamentalminorFCanada thistleCarduus arvensisPerenniallight honey of good qualityFThistle spp.Annual79noferalminorFMountain bluetCentaurea Montana (Knapweed)Short-lived Perennial55no??feralmajorFCreeping thistleCirsium arvensePerennial79feral (invasive in North America)FSweet autumn clematisClematis ternifloraPerennial99ornamentalminorFClethra, summersweetClethra alnifoliaPerennial (shrub)78noferalminorC, FCucumberAnnual69no; honey is pale yellow or amber with strong flavorcultivatedminorCMelonAnnual610nocultivatedminorCPumpkinCucurbita pepo L.Annual610nocultivatedminorC, FWild carrotDaucus carota Biennial89noferalminorFLeopard's baneDoronicum cordatumPerennial45noferalminorFCandytuftIberis sempervirensPerennial55FViper's bugloss, blue thistle,Echium vulgare Echium vulgare is most widely known, though about 60 additional species existPerennial68noferal In California, spring-blooming plant with repeat bloom, fall bloom provides nectar for bees for overwintering. The most unusual feature of E. vulgare is the protection of the nectar inside the flower from vaporization (when weather is hot) or flushing away (when rains). major – 300–1,000 lb/acre honey depending on soil, 500–2000 lb of dark blue pollenFGlobe thistleEchinops ritroAnnual88feralmajorFFireweedEpilobium angustifoliumPerennial69yesferalmajorFHeatherErica vulgaris, though many varietiesPerennial (shrub)see Monofloral honey100–200 lb honeyFJoe-Pye weed, boneset, white snakerootEutrochium spp., Eupatorium spp., Eupatorium purpureum; Eupatorium perfoliatum; Eupatorium ageratoidesPerennial89noferalminorC, FBuckwheatFagopyrum esculentumAnnual78can be, dark honey with distinct flavor, granulates quicklyrarely cultivated nowminorFBlue vineGonolobus laevisPerennialno, honey is clear, heavy bodied, of excellent flavorferalminor, strong hives can collect up to 100 lbC, FSoybeanGlycine sojaAnnual710cultivatedmajorC, FSunflowerHelianthus annuusAnnual69can beferal, cultivatedminor – 30–100 pounds/acreC, FBasilKoelliaAnnualnocultivatedminorFHenbit, deadnettleLamium spPerennial35noferalminor, but valuable due to earliness/frost hardinessC, FLavenderLavandula angustifoliaPerennial (shrub)69can becultivatedminorFBirdsfoot trefoilLotus corniculatusPerennial68noferalminorC, FWhite sweet cloverMelilotus albaBiennial58yesferal, cultivatedmajor up to 200 lb per hiveC, FYellow sweet cloverMelilotus officinalisBiennial58yesferal, cultivatedmajor up to 200 lb per hiveC, FAlfalfaMedicago sativaPerennial78as clover honey, alfalfa honey granulates readilyferal, cultivatedmajorC, FCloverMelilotus spp. and Trifolium spp.Biennial58as clover honeyferal, cultivatedmajor – up to 500 lb/acre in a good yearFMelissa, lemon balmMelissa officinalisPerennialWestern US – Prolonged bloom of 45 – 50 days generally in summer, but with repeat blooming in California. Delicate honey with very light, pinkish color.150–250 lb/acre honey, 50–120 lb pollenC, FPeppermintMentha piperitaPerennialnoferalFCatnip, cat mintNepeta mussinii; Nepeta grandiflora; Nepeta catariaPerennial69noferal, ornamentalminorFOreganoOriganum vulgarePerennial69nocultivated?minorC, FPoppyPapaver somniferumPerennialminor – 20–30 lb/acreC, FPhacelia, tansyPhacelia tanacetifoliaPerennialWestern 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 3 ft of topsoil.180–1,500 pounds honey per acre, depending on soil quality and depth; 300–1000 pounds of pollen.G, HPlantainPlantago MajorPerennial7FSmartweedPolygonum spp.Perennial89feralmajorFSelfhealPrunella vulgarisPerennial78noferalminorFLungwortPulmonaria spp.Perennial55noferalminorFAppalachian mountain mintPycnanthemum flexuosumPerennial810minorFAzaleaRhododendron spp.Perennial68noornamentalminorFRussian sageSalvia × floriferiorPerennial79can beornamentalminorFScrophulariaScrophularia spp.Perennial77noferalminorFSedum, autumn joySedum spectabilePerennialFGoldenrodSolidago spp.Perennial910can be, honey golden color of deep amber; marked flavor; granulates quicklyferalmajorFWoundwortStachys byzantinaPerennial55noferalminorFChickweedStellaria mediaAnnual47noferalminorFDandelionTaraxacum officinaleAnnual (Perennial not an annual)45no, honey deep yellow, granulates quickly; mostly consumed by bees during brood rearingferalmajorFGermanderTeucrium canadensePerennial78noferalminorFThymeThymus pulegioides; Thymus serpyllumPerennial67noferal, cultivatedminor – 50–150 lb/acre honeyFRed-flowering thymeThymus praecoxPerennial67feral?majorC, FAlsike cloverTrifolium hybridumPerennialas clover honey, alsike clover honey is one of the best honey plants in America.feral, cultivatedmajor, up to 500 lb/acreC, FCrimson cloverTrifolium incarnatumPerennialas clover honeyferal, cultivatedmajorC, FRed cloverTrifolium pratensePerennial67as clover honeyferal, cultivatedmajorC, FWhite cloverTrifolium repensPerennial67as clover honey; honey is white or nearly white; very mild flavored and does not granulate readilyferal, cultivatedmajorFBlue vervainVerbena hastata L.Perennial78noornamental?minorFTall ironweedVernonia altissimaPerennial89noferalminorFSpeedwellVeronica spicataPerennial66noferalminorFTufted vetch, common vetchVicia craccaPerennial78noferalminorFCommon vetchVicia sativaPerennial78noferalminorFBlackhawViburnum prunifoliumPerennial (shrub)56noferalminor
Garden plants to feed honey bees in Canada Aster Bluebells (Hyacinthoides) Clematis Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) Cosmos Crocus Hellebore Lavandula Marigold (Calendula officinalis) Mint (Mentha) Primula Rosemary Rudbeckia Sunflower (Helianthus)
Gallery
See also Forage (honey bee) List of honey plants List of honeydew sources Nectar source List of pollen sources Melliferous flower Regional honeys
References Tew, James Some Ohio Nectar and Pollen Producing Plants Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet, 2000
Delaplane, Keith Bee Conservation in the Southeast The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension; Service Bulletin 1164; April 2010 (web accessed May 2019)