R&DBKA

Romsey and District Beekeepers' Association

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.
Spring plants:
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
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
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
Hazel
Corylus avellana
pollen
A tree, at its best in early spring
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
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
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
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
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
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
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