Nectar and Pollen Yearly Availability Chart

Below are abundant trees, bushes, weeds, and flowers in South Western Idaho. As a beekeeper, knowing what is within flying distance around your hives and when those start blooming is vital.

I hope this chart helps you in caring for your honey bees. If we are missing something or if something is inaccurate, please let us know so this can be an updated bloom chart for the area.

Chart Definitions

Begin Bloom Month = On average will start to bloom at some point during this month.

End  Bloom Month = On average will stop blooming at some point during this month.

Nectar Source= This could be Unknown (there is no specific information on quantity), None, Low, Medium(Med.), High. Some plants provide a high amount, but due to compounds found in the plant, or the length of the honey bee’s tongue (or other factors), the amount may be less. The amount is from the reference point of the honey bee. The source amount is a combination of source quantity (how often the plant reloads, and the amount that reloads) and how quickly the honey bee can access the amount and move on to the next plant.

Pollen Source= Similar to Nectar Source, but for pollen.

Common Name(Latin name)

Begin Bloom Month

End Bloom Month

Nectar Source

Pollen Source

Image

Maple(Acer spp.)

January

May

High

Med.

Willow(Salix)

Feb.

August

High

Med.

Desert Globemallow(Sphaeralcea ambigua)

Feb.

Nov.

High

Unknown

Dandelion(Taraxacum officinale)

March

Sept.

High

High

Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

May

June

Low

Unknown

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

May

June

High

Unknown

American Elm(Ulmus americana)

March

May

Low

Unknown

Apricot(Prunus armeniaca)

March

May

Low

Medium

Clover(Melilotus spp. & Trifolium spp.)

April

Sept.

High

Med.

Apple(Malus domestica)

April

May

Low

High

Peach(Prunus persica)

April

May

Low

Medium

Mustard(Brassica arvenisis)

April

May

Low

High

Alfalfa(Medicago sativa)

May

Sept.

High

Unknown

Blackberry(Rubus spp.)

May

June

High

Unknown

Raspberry(Rubus)

May

June

High

Medium

Cherry(Prunus cerasus)

May

June

High

Medium

BlueBerry(Vaccinium corymbosum)

May

June

Low

Low

Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)

June

July

Medium

Medium

Onion(Allium cepa)

June

August

Low

Low

Lavender(Lavandula angustifolia)

June

Sept.

Low

Unknown

Fireweed(Epilobium angustifolium)

June

Sept.

High

Unknown

Sunflower(Helianthus annuus)

July

October

Low

High

Milkweed(Asclepias)

July

August

High

Unknown

Thistle(Centaurea)

July

Sept.

Low

Unknown

Russian Sage(Salvia yangii)

July

Sept.

Low

Unknown

Goldenrod(Solidago spp.)

Sept.

October

High

Unknown

Ragweed(Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

Sept.

October

Low

Unknown

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