Common bistort
A perennial forming pink spikes in moist mountain meadows; in late spring and early summer it offers bees moderate nectar and pollen.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,3-1 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Common bistort forms large stands in cool, moist mountain meadows, along bog margins and in damp woodland clearings. Its dense pink spikes give both nectar and pollen; in the Alps and the mountains of Central Europe it counts among the early-summer sources for highland beekeeping.
Flowering
It flowers for 4-6 weeks between May and July, depending on altitude. Nectar secretion is good on cool but sunny days; in drought the plant quickly declines.
Honey and pollen
No single-flower honey is produced; it contributes to mountain meadow honeys. No reliable record of the pollen load colour was found.
Note for the beekeeper
This species is rare in Turkey; closely related Bistorta species in the highland pastures of north-eastern Anatolia play a similar role. Not mowing wet meadows too early allows flowering to finish.