Camelina
An old oilseed crop, now revived, suited to dry, poor soils; its small pale yellow flowers give bees moderate nectar and pollen.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0.3-0.9 m
- Life cycle
- Annual
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Camelina is an annual crucifer grown for its oil since the Bronze Age, which has attracted renewed interest in recent years for biofuel and omega-3 oil. It tolerates drought, cold and poor soils and grows with few inputs. Its small pale yellow flowers are largely self-pollinating, but honey bees still visit the fields for nectar and pollen.
Flowering
Spring-sown crops flower in May-June and autumn-sown crops in April-May, for about 3-4 weeks. The flowers mostly stay open until midday.
Honey and pollen
It is not produced as a separate honey; it gives a light-coloured, fast-crystallising contribution similar to crucifer multifloral honeys.
Note for the beekeeper
Because it needs less spraying than oilseed rape, it is a bee-friendly oilseed option. Wild camelina species also grow on field margins in Turkey. Mixed-cropping trials with peas and lentils provide bees with an extra source.