Siberian peashrub
A very cold- and drought-hardy yellow-flowered shrub planted in shelterbelts in Siberia and Russia; a good late-spring nectar source.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 2-6 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Siberian peashrub is a shrub from the steppes of Siberia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan that withstands cold down to -40 °C as well as drought. In Russia and North America it is widely used in field shelterbelts and hedges. Its yellow pea flowers secrete abundant nectar; Russian beekeeping sources count it among the important spring honey plants. Pollen is collected too.
Flowering
It flowers in May, as the leaves come out, for about 2-3 weeks. In cold climates it comes after the fruit trees and before black locust.
Honey and pollen
It is not common as a separate monofloral honey; it adds a light-coloured contribution to early-summer multifloral honeys.
Note for the beekeeper
It is one of the few species that can be planted as a windbreak around apiaries on the dry uplands of eastern Anatolia and the interior, with their harsh winters. Its seeds resemble broad beans; they should not be eaten raw.