Oregon grape

Value for beekeeping

Oregon grape is an evergreen shrub from western North America whose shiny, spiny-edged leaves resemble holly. Its fragrant yellow flower clusters offer both nectar and pollen in early spring and are visited regularly by honey bees. The stamens snap inwards when touched; this movement deposits pollen on the visiting insect.

Flowering

It flowers from March to May, starting in late February after mild winters. Flowering lasts several weeks and bridges the period between willow and fruit trees.

Honey and pollen

The pollen loads are yellow. It is not harvested as a separate honey; its contribution is food for spring build-up.

Note for the beekeeper

In current classification the genus Mahonia has been merged into Berberis (barberry); the old name is still common in horticulture. It spreads into woodland via seeds carried by birds and is considered invasive in some Central European countries. Being shade-tolerant, it is valuable as an early pollen source under trees; its blue berries also feed birds.