The best honey plants

Honey plant is a plant with which the bee is in close symbiosis. Honey plants must be present in sufficient quantities near or at a short distance from the beekeeping farm. During the flowering period, they are a natural source of food for insects, ensure health and normal functioning, and are the key to the reproduction of offspring. For high-quality honey collection, the close proximity of large tracts of honey-bearing plants that produce nectar in abundance is important. This function can be performed by trees, shrubs and grasses. The following is an overview of honey-bearing herbs with photos and names.

What is a honey plant

All honey-bearing plants important for beekeeping are divided into nectar-bearing plants, pollen-bearing plants and nectar-pollen-bearing plants. From nectar, insects produce carbohydrate food for themselves - honey, pollen is a source of protein. The most valuable plants are those from which both components of the family’s diet can be collected. Honey plants secrete these substances. Special nectar glands are located in the flowers themselves, on the stems, petioles, stipules and bracts. The composition and quantity of nectar depend on the type, variety, age of plants, and climatic conditions.

Among the honey-bearing herbs, legumes, Rosaceae, Lamiaceae, Compositae, and buckwheat are of greatest production importance for beekeeping.

It is divided into the main bribe - the most productive collection of honey of the best quality, and the supporting one - necessary for the bees to gain strength after wintering or before it. Typically, 30-40 species of honey plants are concentrated in a separate area, providing good honey collection.

The best honey plants for bees

First-class honey plants for bees are herbs that can provide abundant honey. The main factors are the duration of flowering and the amount of nectar produced. Honey-bearing grasses are characterized by the greatest productivity:

• Fireweed (Ivan-tea);
• Buckwheat;
• Lungwort;
• Clover;
• Goldenrod;
• Borage (Borago);
• Sainfoin;
• Alfalfa;
• Sweet clover (more than 12 species);
• Catnip;
• Ammi dental;
• Field mint;
• Sage (clary, meadow, whorled);
• Coriander sativum;
• Motherwort;
• Althaea officinalis;
• Mouse peas;
• Angelica;
• Syrian cottonweed;
• Thistle (garden, field);
• Snakehead;
• Oregano;
• Meadow cornflower;
• Loosestrife.

If the concentration of honey plants near the apiary is insufficient or the honey harvest is disrupted due to weather conditions, beekeepers with hives move in search of productive places. The time of migration is coordinated with the flowering dates of certain honey plants. In an effort to obtain monofloral honey, the apiary wanders to the places where one type of plant grows. This method of collecting honey allows you to get 30-40% more product than from a stationary apiary.

Honey plants sown specifically for bees

To ensure a continuous process of honey collection and improve the quantity and quality of the product, honey-bearing grasses with different flowering periods are sown around the apiary. They are not very demanding on soil composition and weather conditions and at the same time produce large volumes of nectar. Mowing the grasses improves bribes, so they bloom 2-3 times per season. The choice of honey plants sown next to the apiary is determined by their nectar productivity and benefits for the farm. Many of them are fodder, medicinal, and oilseed crops.

Green manure plants

Among the honey-bearing grasses specially sown around the apiary for bees, many have green manure properties - they structure and enrich the soil. In the spring, cold-resistant and early-ripening annuals are sown - oats, fodder peas, mustard. In autumn, the seeds of green manure plants are planted in the ground a month before frost.

Sainfoin

A perennial legume honey plant, grown for livestock feed. Saturates the earth with nitrogen. Frost- and drought-resistant, grows even on poor, rocky and heavy soils, prefers neutral acidity and moderate humidity. Honey plant sainfoin blooms in May-June, allowing you to get 280-400 kg/ha.

Sweet clover

In the post-Soviet space, 12 species of sweet clover grow, which are represented by annual and biennial plants. The first ones are sown for autumn honey harvest (August-September), biennials bloom every other year in the summer. To continuously obtain monofloral harvest, the field is divided into sections and mowed at different times.The productivity of honey clover can reach 500 kg/ha. Sweet clover honey is white with an amber tint, a herbal bouquet and a mild taste with a subtle bitterness, crystallizing in large grains.

Clover

Forage plant. Enriches the earth with nitrogen. It is demanding on soil moisture - in drought it stops producing nectar. Due to the structural features of the flower, honey clover is unattractive to bees; beekeepers have to resort to training. The grass blooms all summer, honey production depends on the type: white clover produces 100 kg/ha, red clover - from 30 to 240 kg/ha (depending on the breed of bees), pink - 130 kg/ha, Persian shabdar - up to 300 kg/ha . Clover honey is light, almost transparent, very sweet, with a light herbal flavor; when sugared, it forms small crystals.

Alfalfa

Annual and perennial herbs of the legume family, bloom from early summer to mid-autumn; mowing is practiced to repeat flowering. Alfalfa functions as a honey plant from June to August and produces up to 200 kg of nectar per hectare. Alfalfa honey is light amber, delicate in taste, and prone to rapid crystallization.

Mustard

An annual plant, undemanding to soil composition, used to improve soil health. When sequentially sowed, honey grass can bloom from June to September. The productivity of honey mustard depends on the time of sowing and ranges from 35 to 150 kg/ha. Mustard honey has a light yellow color, a slight herbal smell and a creamy texture. The taste is harmonious, not too sweet and not cloying.

Oilseed radish

Oilseed radish is grown as a forage grass and an excellent honey plant. Winter sowing of radish allows you to collect honey in April-May, spring sowing - in the second half of summer.The plant produces nectar even at low temperatures and lack of sunlight. From 1 hectare of continuous crops, bees receive up to 180 kg of honey. It has a very strong aroma and sugars quickly.

Buckwheat

An annual pseudocereal is a grass of the buckwheat family, grown for human and animal consumption. Valuable green manure, saturates the soil with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Nectar from Buckwheat is collected from the end of June for a month and a half. The honey productivity of the plant ranges from 70-200 kg/ha. Buckwheat as a honey plant is one of the best. Its honey is dark brown, with a tart taste and pungent aroma, and quickly crystallizes.

Rape

An unpretentious annual grass of the cruciferous family, two types of plants are cultivated - winter and spring. The first blooms in May-June, the second in August-September. Honey rapeseed yields 30-90 kg of nectar per hectare. Rapeseed honey is white and thick. Candied within a week.

Oriental goat's rue

A perennial plant that saturates the soil with nitrogen and has antibacterial properties. Goat's rue as a honey plant is attractive to bees due to the convenient location of nectaries in open flowers. The grass blooms in the last ten days of May, stops producing nectar at the end of June, honey productivity is 150-200 kg/ha.

Perennial honey herbs for bees

Among all the herbs sown near the apiary, beekeepers give preference to perennial honey plants - they live for 10-15 years, have a predictable flowering period, and do not need to sow annually.

Fireweed (Ivan-tea)

A valuable honey plant, in the wild it is found on the edges, clearings, and forest outskirts. The honey-bearing grass Ivan-chai blooms in July-August and produces up to 400 kg of honey per hectare.

Mint

The medicinal honey plant is represented by several species of perennials of the Lamiaceae family. Among them, only three are of industrial importance. Field mint yields about 100 kg/ha per season. Peppermint – in many specialized farms it provides the main honey yield, yielding up to 350 kg/ha. Honey productivity of long-leaved mint is 200 kg/ha. Mint as a honey plant allows you to get a product of a beautiful amber color with a cooling aftertaste.

Lungwort

Perennial herbaceous honey plant of the Borachnikov family. Blooms from late April to late May. Honey productivity is average - 60-70 kg per hectare. Provides a very important early summer honey collection.

Lavender angustifolia

An evergreen subshrub-honey plant of the Lamiaceae family. The flowering period depends on the region - from mid to late summer. Lavender honey plant produces about 200 kg of honey per hectare. Lavender honey is classified as a valuable premium grade. It appears transparent, golden in color, with a pleasant herbal bouquet, and retains a liquid consistency for a long time.

Heather

An evergreen low-growing honey bush that grows in the European part of the Russian Federation, Western and Eastern Siberia. It grows on poor permeable soils - mountain slopes, wastelands, swamps, burnt areas, peat bogs. It blooms from July to September, a valuable late honey plant, capable of producing nectar up to 100 kg/ha. Heather honey is viscous, dark red, aromatic, slightly bitter, and does not sugar for a long time.

Common goldenrod (Golden rod)

Perennial plant of the Asteraceae family. Unpretentious to growing conditions, Goldenrod is valuable as a late honey plant. Provides a sufficient amount of nectar and pollen that bees need before wintering. The honey productivity of the plant is more than 150 kg per hectare.Goldenrod honey is golden-yellow or reddish, has a pungent odor, a harmonious taste with a subtle bitterness.

Lemon catnip (catnip)

Catnip as a honey plant produces a good harvest - up to 400 kg of honey per hectare. The flowering period is from late June to late summer. Honey from Catnip is amber in color, with a delicate aroma and taste; when sugared, it becomes light cream with a fine-grained structure.

Kermek

Representative of the Svinchatkov family. Kermek is valuable as a late-summer honey plant. It blooms after the main flowers are collected - from the end of June until frost. Allows the bees to raise their young before wintering. Honey from Kermek is dark brown, with a characteristic bitterness, of low quality, candied with large crystals. A honey plant produces about 50 kg of nectar per hectare.

Veronica (oak, long-leaved)

Herbaceous perennial of the Plantain family. The honey plant grows on forest edges, in gardens and fields. It blooms all summer, honey productivity is more than 100 kg/ha.

Loosestrife (Plakun-grass)

Representative of the Derbennikov family. It is found on the banks of reservoirs, water meadows, and swamps. The honey plant blooms from June to September. From one hectare of continuous growth you can collect up to 350 kg of honey. The product has a tart taste, rich bouquet, and amber color.

Common cyanosis (Cyanus azure)

The plant is widespread in central Russia and Siberia, and is considered one of the best taiga honey plants. Flowering time is June-July. Allows you to collect up to 200 kg per hectare.

Oregano

Perennial with a long flowering period - from June to the end of September. The honey plant produces up to 85 kg of nectar per hectare. Oregano honey has a pleasant taste, light amber color, and candied slowly.

Silphia pierced foliage

Among perennial honey plants sown specifically for bees, Silphia is a record holder; it can live up to 50 years. Forage and silage crops. It blooms from July to September, depending on climatic conditions and the number of cuttings. The honey productivity of the plant can reach 350 kg/ha. Honey has a delicate taste with a slight bitterness and does not crystallize for a long time.

Hyssop (Blue St. John's wort, Bee grass)

Belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The honey plant grows in the steppes, on dry, rocky soils. The flowering period is from June to September. Honey productivity increases every year. In the second year, 250 kg of nectar is obtained per hectare, in the third - more than 400 kg, in the fourth - about 800 kg. Honey from the Hyssop herb is a valuable variety, has a pleasant taste and delicate aroma.

Thistle

Perennial or biennial plants of the Aster family, there are more than 10 species. Weeds grow everywhere. Honey plants bloom from July to September, allowing you to collect nectar up to 150 kg/ha. Bodyakov honey is aromatic, with a green tint, harmonious taste, upon crystallization it acquires a fine-grained structure, suitable for wintering bees.

Sverbiga eastern

Fodder crop, honey plant, lives 8-10 years. Blooms from May to July. It has high honey productivity, increasing over the years. From a hectare of concentrated growth of Sverbiga, bees collect about 600 kg of nectar.

Common borer

Loves partial shade - sparse forests, edges, parks, gardeners consider it weed. Flowering of the honey plant continues all summer, honey productivity is 160-190 kg/ha.

Jerusalem artichoke

A forage plant suitable for human consumption. Late honey plant. Flowering time is from mid-August to late September.Jerusalem artichoke as a honey plant is unproductive, producing up to 30 kg/ha of nectar; among perennial honey plants, it is important for preparing bees for wintering.

Annual honey plants

The main advantage of annuals is that they do not overwinter and do not freeze out. They will bloom in summer or autumn, providing late summer blooms. The selection of herbs depends on the region; sowing is carried out early - simultaneously with spring crops.

Snakehead

Late honey plant, blooms from mid-summer to September. It is sown near apiaries and in gardens. The first flowers bloom 60-70 days after sowing. The honey productivity of the grass is low - 15 kg/ha.

Zhabrey (Pikulnik)

A representative of the Lamiaceae family, it grows on stubble, on forest edges and clearings, and is considered a garden weed. The honey plant is widespread in the European part of Russia, blooming in July-September. Zhabrey is a good honey plant; it allows you to collect 35-80 kg of nectar per hectare.

Coriander

The annual plant is grown as a spice throughout almost the entire territory of Russia; wild species are found in the south of the country. The flowering period of the honey plant is June-July, honey productivity is up to 500 kg/ha. Coriander honey is amber or light brown in color, has a medicinal caramel taste and a sharp spicy smell.

Field radish (wild)

A weed plant, widespread everywhere, reproduces by self-sowing. The grass is suitable for feeding animals and people. Honey collection from the Wild Radish honey plant continues from May to September, the volume reaches 150 kg per hectare.

Anise

A species of the Bedrenets genus, a spice, cultivated in the middle zone and in the south of Russia. The flowering time of the honey plant is June, July, productivity is 50 kg of honey per hectare.

Camelina sativa

A representative of the cabbage family, distributed in the European part of the Russian Federation, Siberia, the Caucasus, and Crimea.The grass Ryzhik blooms from April to June; as a honey plant, it is not very productive; it allows you to get 30 kg of honey per hectare.

Sunflower

Valuable oilseed crop, honey plant. Honey productivity per hectare is relatively low - up to 50 kg, but taking into account the sown areas, it is an effective honey plant. Flowering time occurs in July-August; in a number of areas it provides the main harvest. Sunflower honey is golden yellow with a faint aroma and delicate taste; upon crystallization it acquires a fine-grained texture.

borage

It is eaten and used for medicinal purposes. The honey plant blooms from July until frost. As a honey plant, borage is very productive - it produces up to 300 kg of honey per hectare.

Honey-bearing medicinal herbs

Many medicinal herbs form quite extensive colonies in nature. In the absence of such, this deficiency can be compensated for by sowing, growing medicinal raw materials and honey plants at the same time. They are characterized by long flowering periods and large amounts of nectar produced. Bee products obtained from these plants have high medicinal properties.

Althaea officinalis

A perennial herb of the malvaceae family, in Russia it grows in the European part, Eastern and Western Siberia, the North Caucasus, the Volga region, and Altai. The flowering period of the honey plant covers July-August, allowing you to collect 400 kg of nectar per hectare.

Norichnik pineal

A perennial that grows in moist, well-shaded areas. Flowering covers the period from June to September. The grass is characterized by high nectar productivity - often exceeding a ton per hectare.

Ammi dental (Visnaga)

A biennial herbaceous plant, found in the steppes, on dry slopes, and weeds crops. The honey plant blooms all summer.Per hectare allows you to get 800-1860 kg of honey.

Valerian officinalis

Perennial, widespread everywhere. The honey plant blooms from the 2nd year throughout the summer. Honey productivity – up to 325 kg/ha. The product is endowed with the properties of Valerian and has a calming effect.

Motherwort

Represented by more than 15 species. Blooms from early summer to September. An excellent honey plant, it produces 200-300 kg of nectar per hectare.

mignonette fragrant

It is one of the first-class honey plants. It has high pollen and nectar productivity. Blooms from May to September. Bees produce an average of 400 kg of honey per hectare of crops.

Angelica

Angelica is found in the wild and cultivated by humans, used in cooking and medicine. Angelica is one of the best honey plants, it blooms for 3 weeks from the end of June, and produces up to 150 g of nectar per plant. The arrangement of flowers provides bees with easy access to nectaries; insects willingly visit them. Up to 400 kg of honey per hectare is obtained per hectare, the daily profit for one hive reaches 8 kg per day. Angelica honey is one of the elite varieties.

Echinacea purpurea

Late honey plant, blooms from July to the end of September. The plant extract is widely used in conservative and folk medicine. Produces up to 130 k/ha of nectar.

Sage

Represented by more than 30 species, the most common are medicinal and nutmeg. The honey plant blooms in May-June; honey productivity, depending on growing conditions, ranges from 130 to 400 kg.

Comfrey officinalis

A perennial herbaceous plant used in alternative medicine. It grows as a weed in damp places - on the banks of ponds, ditches, and water meadows. Flowering period – May-September. The nectar productivity of continuous thickets is 30-180 kg/ha.

Cumin

Biennial winter plant of the Celery family. The distribution area is meadows, forest clearings, near housing and roads. Flowering time is from May to August. It allows you to collect 60 kg of nectar per hectare.

Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm)

Perennial essential oil plant. It bears nectar from June to September. Melissa honey is transparent, one of the best varieties, and has a delicate, refined bouquet. During the season it produces 150-200 kg of nectar per hectare.

Coltsfoot

Valuable early spring honey plant, supports the vital activity of bees after wintering. Nectar productivity – 20 kg/ha.

Cinquefoil anserina (Central's foot, Toadwort)

Perennial of the Rosaceae family, grows in wastelands, banks of rivers, streams, and ponds. Blooms from June to September. Honey productivity – 40 kg per hectare.

Lofant anise (Fennel multigrass)

The herbaceous plant is cultivated as a medicinal raw material and spice. It blooms in the second year after sowing, from the second half of July to the end of September. Lofant is a highly productive honey plant; 1 hectare of planting produces 400 kg of honey.

Meadow honey plants

Meadow honey plants include grasses growing in flooded meadows, floodplains, steppes and semi-deserts. They are able to provide continuous honey collection throughout the season.

meadow cornflower

Field weed, common in meadows, forest edges, roadsides, blooms from June to August. Produces up to 130 kg/ha of thick, good quality honey.

Meadow geranium

Honey-bearing perennial, grows on the banks of reservoirs, clearings, roadsides, and in populated areas.Geranium blooms in June-August, nectar productivity is 50-60 kg/ha.

Adonis (Adonis) spring

Pollen and honey plants of the Ranunculaceae family are found in forb steppes and forest-steppes, in non-chernozem zones of the European part of Russia, in Western Siberia and in the Crimea. The grass blooms in May, allowing you to get 30 kg of honey per hectare.

Volovik officinalis

Perennial grass, grows like a weed everywhere, the flowering period lasts from May to August, honey productivity is 300-400 kg/ha.

Thistle

A weed plant of the Asteraceae family, grows everywhere. All representatives of this species are excellent honey plants. Flowering continues from June to autumn. Thistle honey is colorless or light amber, high quality, harmonious taste, crystallizes slowly. One of the best honey plants, from a hectare of dense thickets of thistle you can get up to 400 kg of nectar.

Common cress

Biennial weed plant of the Brassica family. Grows in fields, meadows, pastures, along roads and ditches. The grass blooms all summer, bees collect up to 180 kg of nectar per hectare. Crescent honey has a pleasant taste with a faint aroma and a greenish-yellow color.

Vatochnik (Milk grass, Swallow grass)

A perennial plant of the Kutrovaceae family, it grows quickly and blooms in 2-3 years. It grows in gardens, forest-steppes, and bears abundant nectar during July-August. It is characterized by high honey productivity, which ranges from 750 to 1000 kg per hectare. Honey from Vatochnik is thick and heavy, of high quality.

Periwinkle

Low-growing creeping evergreen herbaceous shrub of the Kutrovaceae family. It grows in forests, parks, and on the territories of ancient estates.It blooms in April-June, and can bloom again at the end of July, August, September, depending on weather conditions. Periwinkle provides supporting honey flow during the lean period of the year.

Common teeth

A weed plant that grows in fields, pastures, meadows, and near roads. The flowering period is from July to September, providing a supporting honey flow (up to 10 kg/ha), necessary for the autumn growth of bees and replenishment of food reserves.

Honey plants of the Cucurbitaceae family

Pumpkin crops number about 900 species, including edible, decorative, and medicinal. In the summer, bees visit gardens, vegetable gardens, personal plots, and fields where representatives of the Pumpkin family grow.

Common pumpkin

An annual plant, blooms from late July to late September. Bees collect nectar mainly from female flowers in an amount of 30 kg/ha.

Cucumber

The cucumber blooms from the end of June for two months; 10-30 kg of honey is obtained from 1 hectare.

Common watermelon

Flowering time is July-August, honey productivity is low - 15-20 kg/ha.

Melon

It blooms in June-July, producing 20-30 kg of nectar per hectare.

Horsetails, which are good honey plants

Horsetails are a genus of perennials in the fern-like division, with up to 30 species. For agriculture, it is a weed, some of its species are even poisonous. Despite their widespread distribution and high vitality, Horsetails do not represent any value for beekeeping. The plant does not bloom, but reproduces by spores, which means it does not produce nectar or pollen.

Honey plants of spring and early summer

Productive beekeeping is impossible without ensuring continuous honey collection throughout the active season. According to the time of flowering, honey plants are divided into early spring, early summer, summer, late summer and autumn. The very first to bloom, in April, are the following honey plants: Coltsfoot, Ryzhik, Periwinkle and Lungwort. These herbs help bees recover and gain strength after wintering. In May, the flowering period of honey plants Volovik, Caraway, Adonis, Comfrey, Wild radish, Sverbiga, Goat's rue, Rapeseed, Sainfoin begins. They are characterized by high honey productivity.

Honey plants blooming in July

Many of the June honey grasses continue to bloom into July. They are joined by Lavender, Mint, Toothwort, Cottonwort, Lofant, Echinacea, Sunflower, Gill, Cornflower, Willowweed, and Sweet clover. For beekeeping, the variety of honey-bearing herbs growing around is important. Honey productivity is affected by weather conditions - temperature, humidity, lack of rain and wind. The plant produces most of its nectar in the first half of the flowering period.

A number of honey plants bloom all summer long, even without mowing - Volovik, Crescent, Caraway, Comfrey, mignonette, Valerian, Ammi tooth, Sweet clover, Alfalfa, Clover.

Which honey plants bloom in August and September

Some honey herbs bloom from mid-summer to the end of September, and sometimes even until the first frost. Among them are Catnip, Kermek, Goldenrod, Thistle, Hyssop, Sylphium, Oregano, and Derbennik.They are important not only for the main honey collection, but also for the proper functioning and vital activity of the bee colony.

Autumn honey plants

If there are no late honey plants around the apiary, the bees at the end of September and beginning of October no longer leave the hive and consume food reserves. Such a decrease in activity before cold weather can negatively affect the results of wintering. Especially for bees, it is recommended to sow honey-bearing herbs Goldenrod, Jerusalem artichoke, Purple sedum, Borage.

How to organize a honey plant for bees in an apiary

The main condition for productive beekeeping is to provide sufficient food supply for insects. A good bribe can be obtained if the following conditions are met:

1. Arrays of highly productive honey-bearing grasses are located within the effective flight radius of bees, no further than 3 km.
2. Large areas are sown with the main honey plants.
3. There is a diversity of species of honey plants useful for beekeeping.
4. The flowering time of honey-bearing herbs allows for continuous high-quality honey collection.

For the health of the bees, it is important to provide them with an early spring supporting bribe from honey-bearing grasses, which is necessary for building up colonies for the main honey harvest. Summer - the main bribe should be plentiful and the beekeeper should take care of this in advance. Autumn honey harvest from grasses is decreasing in intensity and is largely aimed at preparing families for wintering.

Conclusion

Honey plant is the most important component of the life of bees. The beekeeper should always know what honey plants are in the area, their flowering periods and expected honey production. It is good if within the radius of the bees’ flight there are forest lands, fields, meadows sown with various herbs.Sowing honey plants allows you to regulate the volume and quality of honey collection in a stationary apiary.

Recommended Posts

Nosemacid for bees

Beekeeper Cobalt: instructions for use

Bee dead: tincture with alcohol and vodka, application

Shelf life of propolis

What is the difference between a bumblebee and a bee, photo

Honey plant Mordovnik spherical-headed

Queen bee: how it appears, what it looks like

Apimax for bees

What is bee jelly