Safflower
A drought-tolerant oilseed crop whose yellow-orange heads give bees moderate nectar and pollen in early summer; bee visits support seed yield.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0.5-1.2 m
- Life cycle
- Annual
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Safflower is a spiny field crop grown in dryland farming areas for the oil in its seeds. Its tubular florets, turning from yellow to orange, offer nectar and pollen in the morning. Bee visits increase seed set and yield, especially in lines that are not self-fertile.
Flowering
Sown in spring, safflower flowers for about 3-4 weeks between late June and August. Thanks to its deep roots it keeps flowering in dry summers; this period falls at the time when bees find it hard to find forage on the steppe.
Honey and pollen
Because fields are scattered, monofloral safflower honey is uncommon; its nectar ends up in mixed summer honey.
Note for the beekeeper
In Turkey it is grown in Central Anatolia, Thrace and the Lakes Region. Weed and pest spraying may be carried out in the fields, so talk to the grower before bringing in your hives. The florets were formerly used as a dye and as a substitute for saffron.