Puget Sound Bee Honey/Pollen Resource List

Researched and compiled by:  Sarah Spear Cooke & Kate McWiggins

Species

Common Name

 Nectar 

 Pollen 

 Feb 

 Mar 

 Apr 

 May 

 June 

 July 

 Aug 

 Sept 

Remarks

Alnus

alder

X

X

X

X

Medicago sativa

alfalfa

X

X

X

X

X

Malus sylvestris

apple

X

X

X

X

honey rosy-pink

Prunus armeniaca

apricot

X

X

X

X

Asparagusofficinalis

asparagus

X

X

X

X

X

honey light in color

Aster

aster

X

X

X

X

X

Centaurea cyanus

bachelor's button

X

X

X

X

X

honey yellow-green, strong; nectar sugar as high as 53%

Berberis

barberry, Oregon grape

X

X

X

X

X

nectar sugar 40-50%

Tilia

basswood

X

X

X

X

nectar sugar 35%

Phaseolus

beans

X

X

X

X

Arctostayphylos columbiana

bearberry

X

X

X

honeyamber;excellent flavor

Monarda

bee-balm

X

X

honey amber, flavor somewhat strong

Bidens

beggarticks

X

X

X

X

X

honey amber, heavy body;granulates slowly

Betula

birch

X

X

X

Populus trichocarpa

black cottonwood

X

X

X

source of aromatic propolis

Robinia pseudoacacia

black locust

X

X

X

X

excellent source; nectar sugar 63%

Rubus laciniatus,leucodermis, procerus,ursinus

blackberry

X

X

X

X

X

dominant honey source where found

Kalmiamicrophylla

bog laurel

X

X

possibly poisonous

Parthenocissus tricuspidata

Boston ivy

X

X

X

X

X

honey dark

Brassica

broccoli, cabbage, arugula, collard, mustard

X

X

X

X

X

X

honey granulates rapidly

Ceanothus

buckbrush

X

X

X

X

X

Sanguisorba

burnett

X

X

X

X

dominant pollen source where found

Ranunculus

buttercup

X

X

X

X

Daucus carota

carrot

X

X

X

X

X

honey strong--bee feed or bakery stock

Rhamnus

cascara

X

X

X

X

X

honey light amber, does not granulate

Catalpa

catalpa

X

X

X

rare plant, profuse honey

Nepeta cataria

catnip

X

X

X

nectar sugar 29%

Cichorium

chicory

X

X

X

X

Cichorium intybus

chicory

X

X

X

X

X

Castanopsis chrysophllya

chinquapin

X

X

X

X

X

dominant pollen and nectar source where found

Trifolium spp

clover

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Xanthium

cockleburr

X

X

X

X

Borago officinalis

common borage

X

X

X

X

X

X

Arctium minus

common burdock

X

X

X

X

X

Stellaria media

common chickweed

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

nectar sugar to 50%

Zea

corn

X

X

pollen foraging in a.m.