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.
Summer plants:
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