Black horehound
A strong-smelling wild plant common around villages, ruins and roadsides; flowering from midsummer to autumn, it gives bees a moderate nectar supply.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,4-1 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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A nettle-like but non-stinging plant of nitrogen-rich soils around villages and barns, at the foot of hedges and in ruins in Europe, the Mediterranean basin, Anatolia, the Caucasus and the Middle East. The tube of its pink-purple flowers is of medium length; honey bees reach part of the nectar, while bumblebees benefit more. Its pollen contribution is low.
Flowering
It flowers for a long time from June to September. As it stays in flower in shady, damp corners even during the dry summer, it is a small but continuous secondary source.
Honey and pollen
There is no monofloral honey; it makes a small contribution to mixed late-summer honeys. The unpleasant smell given off when it is crushed does not pass into the honey.
Note for the beekeeper
Its value is limited, but leaving it uncleared on vacant plots and along hedges around village apiaries gives bees extra flowers in the summer dearth. As it comes up by itself, sowing is not recommended.