Carob

Value for beekeeping

Carob is a very drought-tolerant evergreen tree of the Mediterranean coasts. Its small, petal-less flowers, which open in autumn, give nectar and pollen and, after the summer drought, provide bees with an important source before winter. The trees are mostly either male or female; the flowers of both are visited by bees.

Flowering

It flowers from September to November. The flowers form in short clusters on the branches and trunk and have a distinctive heavy scent.

Honey and pollen

A separate carob honey is not common; most of the nectar goes into the winter stores. Pollen is collected in abundance.

Note for the beekeeper

In coastal regions such as Antalya, Mersin, Muğla and Cyprus, carob is one link in the autumn-winter forage chain together with Erica manipuliflora, strawberry tree and loquat. It is a useful species for bees when planting dry, stony land.