PLANTS FOR BEES

Without plants bees would not exist and without bees some flowering plants would not exist. The relationship that has evolved over many millions of years is intrinsic to the survival of both, but as changes rapidly occur due to climate change and man’s impact on the environment the fragility of this relationship is exposed.

Here we look at a range of flowers that are important to bees. From the often overlooked trees that flower in early spring through to the more familiar plants that we associate with honey production.

Learning to identify plants is important for beekeepers. We need to know how much feed is available to the bees to ensure they can not only feed themselves but also provide a honey crop. Different plants produce completely different types of honey and it can be very rewarding to produce honeys from different floral sources.