Notes

Outline

Spring Flowers Early spring flowers blooming February to May Photos by D. Sammataro unless otherwise noted

Skunk Cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus Very early spring Damp soils in woods, open swamps Important early food source

Winter Aconite Eranthus spp. Very early spring Ornamental First flower blooming, visited avidly by bees

Dogwood, Cornelian Cherry Cornus mas Ornamental: Cornelian cherry Dogwood Early spring Important spring source

Trout or Canada Lily Erythronium americanum Early spring Wild flower, woods

Norway Maple Acer platanoides Early spring Street Tree

Maple Acer spp. Early Spring Forest trees

Crocus Crocus spp. Early spring Ornamental

Serviceberry, Shad or Shadblow Amelanchier spp. Early spring Ornamental tree

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Spring and summer Lawns and fields Noxious weed Good for spring build-up

Wild Mustard Brassica rapa Spring Weed in cultivated fields

Apple Malus domestica Early Spring Fruit Tree

Cransbill, Wild Geranium Geranium spp. Spring wildflower

Fruit Trees Early Spring Fruit Cultivated crops Require pollination Good source of early food for spring build up

Wild Cherry, Black Cherry Prunus serotina Spring Forest tree Early source, bitter honey

Chives    Allium schoenoprasum Spring Culinary Herb

Blueberry Vaccinium spp. Spring Fruit (bush)

Canola or Rape Seed Brassica campestris Early spring Oil seed Honey will crystallize quickly

Virginia Waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum Summer to early fall Wildflower Wet places, rich woods

Raspberry Rubus strigosus Spring Fruit (Bramble)

Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa Spring Fruit

Blackberry Rubus fruticosus L. Spring Fruit (Bramble)

Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia Spring Forest Tree Major honey source some years

Alsike Clover Trifolium hydridum Early summer Forage crop, fields and roadsides

Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos Street tree, ornamental Late spring, very fragrant flowers

Holly Ilex spp. Summer Some cultivated ornamentals Many species, some are important honey crops

Summer Flowers June to late July or early August

Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera Late Spring Forest Tree, ornamental Major honey source

Linden, Basswood Tilia spp. Early summer Street Tree Major honey most years

Sweet Clover, Yellow Melilotus officinalis Summer Roadsides, fields Major honey crop

Sweet Clover, White Melilotus alba Summer Major honey plant, forage crop White honey

Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum Summer Culinary Herb

Lima Bean Phaseolus limensis Summer Cultivated crop Good source Honey reported water white, mild with yeasty flavor

Cotoneaster Cotoneaster spp. Ornamental Summer

Buckwheat Fagopyrum spp. Summer Forage, seed crop Very dark honey

Sumac Rhus spp. Summer Wild shrub up to 20 feet Major crop in some areas Light amber honey, good flavor

Citrus Citrus spp. Lemon, Lime, Orange Spring Major honey tree

Vetch, Hairy or Sand Vicia villosa Summer Forage or cover crop

Milkweed, Common Asclepias syriaca Summer Roadsides, dry soil/fields Major honey crop Food for Monarch Butterflies

Squash Cucurbita spp. Squash, gourd, pumpkin Summer Bees needed to pollinate

Fall Flowers August to October

Ironweed, New York Veronica noveboracensis Fall Wildflower Low thickets, moist fields Dark pink to violet color, 3-7 feet tall

Japanese Knotweed, Prince’s Feather Polygonum orientale Summer Introduced weed Dark honey

Asters Aster spp. Fall Fields, waste places Strong honey

Bonset Eupatorium perfoliatum Late summer, fall Wild herb, wet thickets

Thistle Various species Summer Noxious weeds in fields

Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Summer Wet places Noxious weed

Star Thistle, Spotted Knapweed Centaurea maculosa Summer Waste places Considered noxious weed Major honey source, light and distinctive honey

Sweet Corn Zea mays Summer Cultivated Attractive pollen source Pesticide hazard

Cotton Gossypium spp. Major crop Floral and extrafloral nectaries

Fireweed Epilobium  angustifolium Summer Major honey crop Comes in after fires

Heather Calluna spp. Ornamental Acid, well-drained soils Thixotrophic honey

Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Cultivated Summer

Burdock Arctium spp. Summer and fall Waste areas, noxious weed

Russian Olive, Autumn Olive Eleagnus spp. Late spring (Russian) to summer (Autumn) Shrub In waste places, fields

Figwort Scrophularia lanceolata Late summer Wildflower  edges and thickets

Teasel Dipsacus spp. Summer, early fall Waste places, alien Dried head originally used to card wool

Mint Mentha spp.

Mexican Sunflower Tithonia spp. Summer Ornamental

Mt. Mint Pycnanthemum spp. Summer Wild and ornamental varieties

Sunflower Helianthus spp. Late summer, early fall Cultivated and wild varieties Major honey, yellow amber color, strong flavor

Wingstem, Golden Honey Plant Verbesina (=Actinomeris) alternifolia Late summer Wildflower Wet edges

Goldenrod Solidago spp. Summer and fall Wildflower, fields and open spaces Major honey crop Many species, not all are attractive to bees

Orchids Laelia purpurata var. carnea Bob Danka photo