Bee plants in the Romsey district
If you see bees with pollen on their legs you can sometimes tell where they have been by the colour of the pollen collected.
Romsey sits on chalk land with an average low temperate of 4°C in January and average high in July of 22°C, with an annual rainfall around 55cm.
If you live in the Romsey district and want to encourage bees, these plants will grow well and will provide good forage.
Click on the buttons below to see the plants and pollen colours by season in the Romsey area.
Romsey sits on chalk land with an average low temperate of 4°C in January and average high in July of 22°C, with an annual rainfall around 55cm.
If you live in the Romsey district and want to encourage bees, these plants will grow well and will provide good forage.
Click on the buttons below to see the plants and pollen colours by season in the Romsey area.
ALL plants:
Mahonia
Mahonia japonica
pollen
A large shrub, at its best in winter
Large spiky leaves with bright yellow racemes - a magnet for all types of bee
Large spiky leaves with bright yellow racemes - a magnet for all types of bee
Snowdrop
Galanthus nivalis
pollen
A flower, at its best in winter
Woodland, shade. First flowers after winter
Woodland, shade. First flowers after winter
Winter honeysuckle
Lonicera fragrantissima
pollen
A large shrub, at its best in winter
Small white fragrant flowers followed by plump green leaves
Small white fragrant flowers followed by plump green leaves
Winter-flowering Viburnum
Viburnum Bodnantense
pollen
A large shrub, at its best in winter
Stunning pink flowers on bare stems
Stunning pink flowers on bare stems
Cherry
Prunus spp
pollen
A tree, at its best in early spring
Gardens. The prunus genus includes plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds
Honey is typically pale straw to medium amber in colour, delicate taste
Gardens. The prunus genus includes plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds
Honey is typically pale straw to medium amber in colour, delicate taste
Christmas or Lenten rose
Helleborus viridis
pollen
A flower, at its best in early spring
Shade. Flowers point down protecting pollen and nectar from bad weather
Shade. Flowers point down protecting pollen and nectar from bad weather
Gooseberry
Ribes uva-crispa
pollen
A flower, at its best in early spring
Farms and gardens. A straggling fruit bush
Honey is typically pale in colour, mild in taste
Farms and gardens. A straggling fruit bush
Honey is typically pale in colour, mild in taste
Hazel
Corylus avellana
pollen
A tree, at its best in early spring
Hedgerows. A fast growing native deciduous shrub
Hedgerows. A fast growing native deciduous shrub
Willow
Salix species
pollen
A tree, at its best in early spring
Moist soils. Willows are dioecious with male and female flowers appearing as catkins on different plants
Moist soils. Willows are dioecious with male and female flowers appearing as catkins on different plants
Dandelion
Taraxacum
pollen
A weed, at its best in spring
Lawns, anywhere. Considered a weed but sometimes medically or in food preparation
Honey is typically intense golden colour, sharp flavour, pronounced aroma, rapidly becomes somewhat coarse and hard
Lawns, anywhere. Considered a weed but sometimes medically or in food preparation
Honey is typically intense golden colour, sharp flavour, pronounced aroma, rapidly becomes somewhat coarse and hard
Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna
pollen
A tree, at its best in spring
Hedgerows, woods. Does not yield every year
Honey is typically sweet almond scent and taste
Hedgerows, woods. Does not yield every year
Honey is typically sweet almond scent and taste
Forget-me-not
Myosotis sylvatica
pollen
A flower, at its best in late spring
Prolific in damp shady areas of woodland
Honey is typically no crop but useful in june gap
Prolific in damp shady areas of woodland
Honey is typically no crop but useful in june gap
Horse chestnut
Aesculus hippocastanum
pollen
A tree, at its best in late spring
Open space. The seeds are horse-chestnuts (conkers) but this is not a true chestnut tree
Honey is typically light and smooth
Open space. The seeds are horse-chestnuts (conkers) but this is not a true chestnut tree
Honey is typically light and smooth
Oil Seed Rape
Brassica napus
pollen
A crop, at its best in late spring
Fields across UK. A member of the mustard or cabbage family
Honey is typically white, bland flavour, granulates very quickly with fine texture
Fields across UK. A member of the mustard or cabbage family
Honey is typically white, bland flavour, granulates very quickly with fine texture
Sycamore
Acer pseudoplatanus
pollen
A tree, at its best in late spring
Extensively. Tolerates wind, urban pollution and salt spray
Honey is typically good flavour, slow to granulate
Extensively. Tolerates wind, urban pollution and salt spray
Honey is typically good flavour, slow to granulate
Field Bean
Vicia faba
pollen
A crop, at its best in early summer
Cultivated. Among the most ancient plants in Cultivation and also among the easiest to grow
Honey is typically medium amber, rich, medium grained
Cultivated. Among the most ancient plants in Cultivation and also among the easiest to grow
Honey is typically medium amber, rich, medium grained
Lime
Tilia spp
pollen
A tree, at its best in early summer
Wild and cultivated. Also known as linden; nothing to do with limes
Honey is typically pale straw colour with slight greenish tinge. delicate minty flavour
Wild and cultivated. Also known as linden; nothing to do with limes
Honey is typically pale straw colour with slight greenish tinge. delicate minty flavour
Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
pollen
A flower, at its best in early summer
Gardens, clearings. Bears biennial stems (canes) from the perennial root system
Honey is typically light and fine with a delicate flavour and aroma. granulates quickly
Gardens, clearings. Bears biennial stems (canes) from the perennial root system
Honey is typically light and fine with a delicate flavour and aroma. granulates quickly
Sainfoin
Onobrychis viciifolia
pollen
A weed, at its best in early summer
Wild and cultivated. Produces large amounts of nectar and pollen
Honey is typically bright golden colour with a glorious taste. finely granulated
Wild and cultivated. Produces large amounts of nectar and pollen
Honey is typically bright golden colour with a glorious taste. finely granulated
White Clover
Trifolium repens
pollen
A crop, at its best in early summer
Grassy areas. Introduced worldwide as a pasture crop
Honey is typically creamy with a pale straw colour, mild taste. granulates quickly, hard but fine
Grassy areas. Introduced worldwide as a pasture crop
Honey is typically creamy with a pale straw colour, mild taste. granulates quickly, hard but fine
White mustard
Sinapis alba
pollen
A crop, at its best in early summer
Fields across UK. Sometimes grown as green manure
Honey is typically poor aroma and flavour, granulates very quickly, very fine texture
Fields across UK. Sometimes grown as green manure
Honey is typically poor aroma and flavour, granulates very quickly, very fine texture
Bell heather
Erica tetralix, E.cinerea
pollen
A flower, at its best in summer
Boggy regions. A perennial with small pink bell-shaped flowers
Honey is typically strong aroma, quite a bitter taste
Boggy regions. A perennial with small pink bell-shaped flowers
Honey is typically strong aroma, quite a bitter taste
Blackberry
Rubus fruticosus
pollen
A weed, at its best in summer
Woodlands, hedgerows. Unmanaged plants form a tangle of dense stems
Honey is typically medium amber colour, good taste, coarse grained
Woodlands, hedgerows. Unmanaged plants form a tangle of dense stems
Honey is typically medium amber colour, good taste, coarse grained
Borage
Borago officinalis
pollen
A flower, at its best in summer
Much sought-after by pollinators. Copious nectar
Honey is typically very light and pale
Much sought-after by pollinators. Copious nectar
Honey is typically very light and pale
Hardhead Knapweed
Centaurea nigra
pollen
A weed, at its best in summer
Grassland, roadsides. Heads are sometimes confused with the thistle
Honey is typically dark honey with a strong taste like cough mixture
Grassland, roadsides. Heads are sometimes confused with the thistle
Honey is typically dark honey with a strong taste like cough mixture
Holly
Ilex aquifolium
pollen
A tree, at its best in summer
Woods, gardens. Can be invasive
Honey is typically delicious, very light and mild, slow to granulate
Woods, gardens. Can be invasive
Honey is typically delicious, very light and mild, slow to granulate
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
pollen
A flower, at its best in summer
Rich source of pollen and nectar for many pollinators
Honey is typically light and floral
Rich source of pollen and nectar for many pollinators
Honey is typically light and floral
Old Mans Beard
Clematis vitalba
pollen
A weed, at its best in summer
Shrubberies. A vigorous climber
Honey is typically very quick to granulate
Shrubberies. A vigorous climber
Honey is typically very quick to granulate
Phacelia
Phacelia tanacetifolia
pollen
A flower, at its best in summer
Profuse spikey purple-blue flowers. Used as a green manure if not allowed to flower
Honey is typically mixed with other blossoms
Profuse spikey purple-blue flowers. Used as a green manure if not allowed to flower
Honey is typically mixed with other blossoms
Privet
Ligustrum vulgare, L.ovalifolium
pollen
A large shrub, at its best in summer
Hedgerows, woodlands. Semi-evergreen
Honey is typically strong, bitter taste with unpleasant smell. useful to bees in june gap
Hedgerows, woodlands. Semi-evergreen
Honey is typically strong, bitter taste with unpleasant smell. useful to bees in june gap
Ragwort
Senecio jacobaea
pollen
A weed, at its best in summer
Dry waste ground. Perennial, biennial, or winter annual
Honey is typically bright yellow colour, offensive odour and unpalatable until granulated
Dry waste ground. Perennial, biennial, or winter annual
Honey is typically bright yellow colour, offensive odour and unpalatable until granulated
Rosebay Willowherb
Chamaenerion angustifolium
pollen
A weed, at its best in summer
Open fields, pasture. Grow well in open space with light
Honey is typically very pale colour, exceptional taste, fine textured
Open fields, pasture. Grow well in open space with light
Honey is typically very pale colour, exceptional taste, fine textured
Teasel
Dipsacus fullonum
pollen
A flower, at its best in summer
Useful pollen for many bee species. Grows on verges, edges of woodland, hedgerows
Useful pollen for many bee species. Grows on verges, edges of woodland, hedgerows
Wild mustard
Sinapis arvensis
pollen
A weed, at its best in summer
Invasive weed. Also known as Charlock
Honey is typically clear yellow with an unpleasant flavour. granulates quickly
Invasive weed. Also known as Charlock
Honey is typically clear yellow with an unpleasant flavour. granulates quickly
Himalayan balsam
Impatiens glandulifera
pollen
A flower, at its best in late summer
Non-native invasive plant rich in nectar and pollen, loved by pollinators to the detriment of native plants
Honey is typically light, fragrant, floral, runny
Non-native invasive plant rich in nectar and pollen, loved by pollinators to the detriment of native plants
Honey is typically light, fragrant, floral, runny
Ling heather
Calluna vulgaris
pollen
A flower, at its best in late summer
Acidic soils. Calluna is related to Erica but not the same
Honey is typically light to dark amber, bittersweet, thixotropic gel
Acidic soils. Calluna is related to Erica but not the same
Honey is typically light to dark amber, bittersweet, thixotropic gel
Golden rod
Solidago species
pollen
A weed, at its best in autumn
Hedgerows, woods. Good late source of pollen
Hedgerows, woods. Good late source of pollen
Ivy
Hedera helix
pollen
A weed, at its best in autumn
Invasive climber. An important late autumn food source
Honey is typically white, granulates rapidly
Invasive climber. An important late autumn food source
Honey is typically white, granulates rapidly