Blueblossom
An evergreen Californian shrub with pale blue clusters; from April to June it gives honey bees plenty of pollen and nectar.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Good
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 1-6 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Blueblossom, also called California lilac, is an evergreen shrub of the coasts of California and southern Oregon in the USA that is covered in clusters of pale blue flowers in spring. It is not related to lilac; it takes the name only from the colour of its flowers. Its small flowers are short and open; honey bees collect both plenty of pollen and nectar. In European gardens too it is known as an ornamental shrub that attracts many bees.
Flowering
It flowers from April to June; occasionally a second, weaker flowering follows in late summer.
Honey and pollen
It is not harvested as a separate honey. Its pollen contribution is significant, so it helps spring build-up.
Note for the beekeeper
It is a shrub that needs dry summers and mild winters; it suits gardens with a Mediterranean climate and is sensitive to long, hard frosts. Its roots form a partnership with microorganisms that fix nitrogen from the air, so it grows on poor soils too. It is relatively short-lived and may need replacing after 10-15 years. It is rarely planted in Turkey.