Table and descriptions of the best honey plants for bees, which ones to choose

To get a large amount of honey, it is important to place a sufficient number of honey plants near the apiary. If there are no such plants, you have to grow them yourself. There are special tables with honey plants for bees. They list the most valuable shrubs, herbs, trees and flowers that allow you to collect the maximum amount of nectar.

Honey-bearing herbs and flowers

Today, a large number of honey-bearing herbs and flowers are known. Among them there are annual and perennial plants, which are often used in beekeeping. When choosing a specific honey plant, you can focus on its productivity. This information is presented in the table:

Heather

This evergreen shrub is found in the European part of the Russian Federation. It also grows in Siberia. The flower prefers poor, permeable soil types - slopes, swamps, wastelands, peat bogs.

Flowering lasts from July to September. This valuable late honey plant produces up to 100 kilograms of nectar per hectare. Heather honey has a dark red hue and a viscous consistency. It is slightly bitter and retains a liquid consistency for a long time.

Buckwheat

This herbaceous crop occupies a leading position in honey productivity in most Russian regions. Under normal conditions, up to 80 kilograms of honey can be collected from 1 hectare sown with this crop. This area can be covered by 2-3 bee families. Insects collect raw materials throughout August.

The flowers of the plant serve as a source of large amounts of nectar and green-yellow pollen. Buckwheat honey is distinguished by its dark color and special taste. The product contains a lot of iron. In addition, it has excellent antiseptic properties.

Sweet clover

This honey plant is the most common and effective. It belongs to the legume family and is found in different regions, with the exception of the Far North. Flowers form gradually. Therefore, flowering time occurs from the beginning of July to the end of September. The plant should be planted near large apiaries. This helps increase their productivity. Sweet clover honey is rightfully considered elite.

The bushes reach a height of 1.5 meters. The plant is characterized by bright yellow flowers that form long racemes. The culture also has trifoliate leaves with sharp small teeth on the edges.

The sweet clover is characterized by mass flowering. Regardless of weather conditions, the crop produces a lot of pollen and nectar. In addition, it has a bright aroma. Bees collect raw materials to make honey throughout the day. From 1 hectare it is possible to obtain up to 200 kilograms of nectar.

goldenrod

This perennial belongs to the Astrov family. It is undemanding to growing conditions. Goldenrod is considered a late honey plant. It provides a lot of pollen and nectar, which bees need before wintering.

The plant's honey productivity exceeds 150 kilograms per hectare. Goldenrod honey is reddish or golden in color. It is characterized by a sharp aroma and harmonious taste, which contains a slight bitterness.

Ivan-tea (fireweed)

This is a very valuable honey plant, which in natural conditions is found in clearings, edges and forest outskirts. Flowering of the plant begins in July and continues until August.

At the same time, from 1 hectare it is possible to collect up to 400 kilograms of valuable honey.

Clover

This is a forage crop that saturates the soil with nitrogen. The plant is demanding in terms of soil moisture parameters.In dry weather it does not produce nectar. Clover has a special flower structure, which makes it difficult to collect honey from it. That's why beekeepers have to train insects.

The grass continues to bloom all summer. However, its productivity depends on the variety. White clover brings up to 100 kilograms of nectar per hectare, red - 30-240, and pink - about 130. Clover honey is light and has a very sweet taste, which contains light herbaceous notes. When sugaring, small crystals appear in the structure of the substance.

Coriander

The annual plant is grown as a spice throughout almost the entire territory of the Russian Federation. Many people plant the plant in their garden plot. Wild varieties are found in the southern regions of the country. The culture blooms in June and July.

Coriander honey turns out amber or light brown. It is characterized by a caramel flavor and a sharp spicy aroma.

Dandelion

This is one of the early spring crops from the Asteraceae family. It is found everywhere in the wild. Dandelion supports the collection of honey after wintering. It begins flowering in the first half of May. This period lasts 25 days.

The perennial plant reaches a height of 20-30 centimeters. It is characterized by light green lanceolate leaves. The inflorescences are located on stems and include many thin and long petals.

Bees collect nectar from dandelions in the morning. In cloudy weather the flowers do not bloom. Therefore, the plant does not produce nectar. From 1 hectare it is possible to collect 17 kilograms of honey. It has a specific bitter taste and a short shelf life.

Sow thistle

This herbaceous perennial crop is considered a weed.It is called field plant, milkweed or yellow plant. Flowering lasts in summer and autumn. Thistle is characterized by excellent honey productivity. From 1 hectare it is possible to obtain 400 kilograms of honey.

Thistle honey is characterized by a white or light yellow color and a pleasant taste. It is considered a first-class product. It is especially valued for its excellent nutritional characteristics. In medicine, the product is used to combat exhaustion. It is especially useful after surgical interventions in children and the elderly.

Sunflower

This plant is grown in a wide variety of regions. The crop has industrial and agricultural purposes. Oil is made from its seeds, and the cake is used as livestock feed. Sunflower flowering begins in mid-July and lasts 1 month.

The plant reaches a height of 1.8 meters. It includes one thick stem with large oblong leaves that have serrated edges. At the end of the stem there are large inflorescences. The middle of the basket contains many small tubular flowers. Bees collect nectar in the first half of the day. A strong family can collect up to 4 kilograms of nectar in a day. During the entire flowering period, the crop yields 65 kilograms of nectar from 1 hectare.

Rape

This sown annual plant is an effective honey plant. When planted in autumn, you can count on flowering in early spring. The honey productivity of winter rapeseed is 60-90 kilograms.

This honey has a white or yellowish tint. It is characterized by a sweet taste and unique aroma. The product is very thick and quickly crystallizes. Crystal formation often begins already in the honeycomb. They have a white color, a pronounced floral aroma and a tart taste.

This type of honey requires specific storage conditions, as it can quickly turn sour. The product contains a lot of glucose, which has a beneficial effect on brain function. Rapeseed honey has value for bones and liver. In addition, it helps remove heavy metals from the body.

Common bruise

This grass is considered a valuable summer honey plant. From 1 hectare it is possible to obtain up to 800 kilograms of first-class honey. The product is characterized by a light or amber color. It has a pleasant taste and delicate aroma.

The beekeeping product is characterized by a thick consistency and not too rapid crystallization. In this process, small grains are formed. The finished product brings great benefits to the heart and blood vessels. In addition, it is characterized by pronounced calming properties.

Phacelia

This annual plant is considered a unique honey plant. From 1 hectare it is possible to collect up to 500 kilograms of honey. If you follow the rules for planting phacelia, it continues to bloom all summer.

The product obtained from the plant has a sweet and spicy taste. At the same time, its shade can be different - bluish, light yellow, green. The thickened mass has a white tint and resembles dough in consistency.

This honey contains many valuable substances. It contains a lot of potassium, manganese, and silver. The composition also includes calcium, zinc, cobalt.

Clean

This herb is often called toadgrass. It is considered an effective honey plant that begins to bloom in early spring. Bees willingly fly to this plant. From 1 hectare it is possible to collect up to 15 kilograms of valuable product.

Honey bushes and trees

Today there are quite a lot of perennial crops that are used by bees to make honey. Among them there are many trees and bushes.

Barberry

This crop is usually found in the form of shrubs. In rarer cases, trees can also be seen. The plant provides a lot of nectar in May and June. Honey productivity reaches 80 kilograms of product.

Honey from this culture is characterized by a pale yellow color, as well as a delicate and sweet taste. The scent contains notes of spring flowers. The product has a medium viscosity. In addition, it has many useful properties. The composition is useful for the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary organs. In addition, it has antibacterial properties. The product has pronounced tonic properties and provides an anti-inflammatory effect.

Hawthorn

The crop is found in the form of trees and shrubs. It blooms in late spring and is attractive to bees. Hawthorn is characterized by moderate honey productivity, which is 80 kilograms per hectare.

Hawthorn flowering lasts only 1.5 weeks. It falls at the end of May and the very beginning of June. At this time, the crop emits an unpleasant aroma that does not attract insects.

Hawthorn nectar is characterized by a dark color with a reddish tint. The taste has a slight bitterness. The product has beneficial properties. It is especially important for the heart and blood vessels.

Cowberry

This shrub is considered a source of supporting food for bees. From 1 hectare they receive up to 50 kilograms of honey. Lingonberry bloom lasts 2 weeks. Moreover, it begins at the end of May. Lingonberry honey has pronounced medicinal properties.

Vatochnik

This plant is characterized by high honey productivity. It reaches 700 kilograms of nectar. 1 bee colony can collect 5 kilograms of nectar per day. Flowering of the plant begins in the second half of June.

Cottonweed honey has a unique taste and aroma. It has a fairly light shade. Sometimes it has yellowish notes. When pumping honey in dry weather, the product is heated. This is due to the density of the substance.

At the same time, the cotton wool is characterized by an important drawback. Pollen pockets in flowers can trap bees' feet. If the insect cannot escape, it will die.

Yellow acacia (Caragana tree)

This shrub is considered an important early honey plant. Its honey productivity reaches 300 kilograms of product. This type of honey is characterized by a transparent texture and light color. It also has a pleasant smell. An additional advantage of the product is the complete absence of bitterness.

Yellow acacia honey remains liquid for a long time. It is often appreciated by fans of the linden variety. The product is easily digestible and is considered an excellent antiseptic. It improves digestive functions and does not provoke allergy symptoms. From 1 hectare of plantings, bees can collect up to 200 kilograms of honey.

Willow

This plant is considered a very popular honey plant. Most of the species of such crops grow in the form of shrubs. However, there are also trees. Willow loves high humidity and is often found near bodies of water. The plant is an early flowering crop. Its honey productivity is 10-150 kilograms.

Chestnut

This tree is considered a spring honey plant. The plant provides bees with pollen, nectar and a special sticky liquid. A characteristic feature of the culture is considered to be a change in the shade of the dots on the flowers. In this case, the yellow tint is replaced by red. After such changes, the bees do not fly up to the plant.

Chestnut blooms for about 2 weeks. This period is observed in May and June.The number of flowers and honey production are determined by air temperature. On average, 25 kilograms of the substance are obtained from 1 hectare.

Chestnut honey is characterized by a liquid structure, dark brown color and transparent texture. It crystallizes slowly and has bactericidal properties.

Hazel

This plant blooms quite early. This happens at the end of April. Hazel is considered a source of large amounts of pollen. From 1 hectare it is possible to obtain 700 kilograms of honey. At the same time, crop productivity depends on climatic factors and age.

Linden

This is a fairly popular honey tree, which is characterized by its widespread distribution. Its flowering begins in July. The plant is characterized by excellent honey production. From 1 hectare of plantings it is possible to collect up to a ton of honey.

Bird cherry

This plant blooms in spring. At the same time, the honey productivity of bird cherry is considered not too high. It produces up to 20 kilograms of product. Bird cherry honey is characterized by pronounced healing properties. It strengthens the circulatory system and helps eliminate inflammation.

Blueberry

This shrub is a spring-summer honey plant. He is usually appreciated for supporting bribes. At the same time, the honey productivity of 1 hectare is 50-80 kilograms. Blueberry honey is characterized by a transparent texture, pleasant taste and unique aroma.

Specially sown honey plants

Today there are many honey plants that are sown on purpose. Moreover, this is done in the autumn or spring seasons.

Angelica

This crop can reach a height of 2.5 meters. She prefers open areas and nutritious soil. From 1 hectare it is possible to collect quite a lot of honey. The plant needs to be regularly moistened.

Hyssop

This honey plant blooms from June until the end of autumn.The crop can be grown by seed. It is also often propagated by dividing the bush. Hyssop should be planted in light soil. The plant is considered undemanding to climatic factors and can tolerate dry weather and cold.

Oriental goat's rue

This plant is considered very unpretentious. In height it reaches an average of 50 centimeters. The flowering of the crop begins in May. During this period, it is decorated with small purple flowers. From 1 hectare it is possible to collect up to 200 kilograms of honey nectar.

Catnip

This crop is often called steppe mint. Its flowering begins in the first half of July, and ends only with the onset of frost. The bushes are small in size. They do not exceed 80 centimeters in height. To grow successfully, catnip requires regular watering.

Lofant

This flower grows beautifully in one place for 10 years. It can be propagated by seedlings or seeds. To achieve better growth of the crop, it needs to be planted in a well-lit place.

Melissa

The smell of this crop is considered very attractive to bees. Melissa blooms in July or August and lasts for several months. Melissa honey is characterized by a pleasant aroma and taste.

Ball-headed Echinops

From 1 hectare of this plant it is possible to collect up to 1 ton of honey. It is recommended to plant Echinops seeds together with phacelia. Thanks to this, they take root better and bloom longer. The plant reaches a height of 2 meters. The flowering period begins in mid-summer.

borage

This crop can be grown in any soil, but it prefers moist black soil. Borage blooms from early July until autumn.The culture does not require specific care. She produces quite a lot of honey. From 1 hectare you can collect 200 kilograms of nectar.

Safflower

This plant is recommended to be planted after cereals. During the flowering period, orange flowers appear on the bushes. The crop can be grown using the seed method. In this case, the grains need to be planted in early spring. The plant can be combined with other honey plants. This will help you get great results.

Sainfoin

This crop can reach a height of 70 centimeters. Its flowers form clusters and are purple in color. It is recommended to propagate sainfoin by seeds. They should be planted at a depth of 3 centimeters. The plant requires nutritious soil and adequate lighting. The honey productivity of the crop is about 300 kilograms.

What is the best way to sow honey plants?

For productive beekeeping, it is important to provide insects with food. Honey collection is divided into 2 stages:

• main – implies the accumulation of high-quality honey;
• supporting – required to restore the strength of bees after winter and at the stage of preparation for cold weather.

To provide bees with food, it is important to grow several honey plants at once. In this case, each plant in the middle zone is selected by month. Experienced beekeepers recommend planting 30-40 species of plants. It is worth considering the following:

• the main massif should be located a maximum of 1.5 kilometers from the farm;
• productive plants need to cover large areas;
• It is important to use a variety of honey plants.

When compiling a honey calendar, it is important to take into account the climatic features of the area. In this case, the plants should be the most active and ideally suit the specific type of soil.

Honey plants are characterized by diversity.This helps to use a wide variety of crops to make honey. It is important to take into account their productivity and characteristics of growth and flowering.