What is a melliferous plant?
A melliferous plant is a plant that produces nectar and/or pollen in sufficient quantity to attract and feed pollinating insects, especially bees.
- Nectar is a sweet liquid secreted by flowers and transformed by bees into honey.
- Pollen is an essential source of protein for bees, which use it to feed the larvae.
Melliferous plants are therefore essential to biodiversity and the survival of bees, by providing them with indispensable food throughout the year
What is the role of a melliferous plant?
A plant that is not not melliferous does not produce nectar or pollen in sufficient quantity to attract and feed bees. Yet, honey is made from nectar collected from flowers.
If a plant does not produce nectar:
➡️ Bees do not visit them.
➡️ They cannot collect the raw material necessary for honey production.
Some plants can be useful to bees for other reasons (for example, as shelter or for propolis), but if they do not provide nectar, they do not contribute not directly to honey production. That is why only melliferous plants are essential to beekeeping and the feeding of bee colonies.
Melliferous plants of the month of April: a feast for the bees!
With the arrival of April and thus spring, nature awakens and the bees fully resume their activity. After the first foraging in March, they need new sources of nectar and pollen to feed the colony. Let’s discover together the melliferous plants that bloom in April and delight our precious pollinators!
1. The dandelion
The dandelion is one of the most valuable plants for bees in spring. It blooms abundantly and provides both nectar and pollen, essential for the growth of young bees.
2. The cherry tree
Cherry blossoms provide an abundant source of nectar and attract a large number of bees. In addition to helping pollinators, they promote better fruiting of fruit trees.
3. Hawthorn
This plant with very fragrant white flowers is a real goldmine for bees. Its rich nectar helps them accumulate reserves before summer.
4. Rapeseed
In agricultural areas, flowering rapeseed fields are a major resource for bees. This plant produces a large amount of nectar and allows significant production of rapeseed honey.
5. Rosemary
A Mediterranean plant par excellence, rosemary blooms generously in April and attracts many pollinators. Its nectar contributes to the production of honeys with delicate aromas.
6. Apple tree
Like the cherry tree, the apple tree is a highly appreciated honey fruit tree by bees. Its fragrant nectar is essential for colonies actively developing in spring.
7. White clover
Although it often blooms until summer, white clover starts as early as April in some regions. It offers a great source of nectar and contributes to the floral diversity essential for bees.
Conclusion
April is a key period for bees, which find in these honey plants enough to feed the hive and prepare for the summer season. Gardeners and nature lovers, think about promoting these species in your gardens and green spaces to support our precious foragers! 🌿🐝
The role of nectar in honey production
Honey is exclusively made from the nectar of honey-bearing flowers. Bees collect this nectar with their proboscis, then store it in their crop before bringing it back to the hive. Once in the hive, the nectar is transformed into honey thanks to the bees' enzymes and the evaporation of water.
If a plant does not produce nectar, it therefore cannot contribute to honey production.
The case of honeydew: an exception?
Even if non-honey plants do not allow direct honey production, there is one exception: the honeydew. This sweet liquid is secreted by certain insects (such as aphids) when they feed on the sap of trees.
Bees can collect it and make honey from it, called honeydew honey (example: fir or oak honey).
Plants useful to bees without being melliferous
Some plants do not produce nectar but play an important role for bees:
- Non-melliferous pollen plants : Some plants produce pollen but little or no nectar, and can be foraged by bees for their protein content (e.g., corn).
- Plants providing propolis : Trees like poplar or birch are not melliferous, but their resin is used by bees to make propolis, a substance with antiseptic properties.
- Plants offering shelter : Some non-melliferous plants serve to protect hives from wind or bad weather, such as natural hedges.
Why are some plants not melliferous?
Plants that do not produce nectar or pollen do not have no need for pollinating insects to reproduce. They often use other strategies, such as:
- Pollination by the wind (e.g., grasses, hazelnut trees, oaks).
- Vegetative reproduction (e.g., certain ferns and mosses)
In summary, only melliferous plants directly participate in the production of honey, but other plants can still be useful to bees! 🐝🌿