Rockrose
Spring shrub of maquis and pine clearings; it gives no nectar but produces very abundant pollen, and its resin can be a propolis source.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Very good
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Pollen colour
- Height
- 0.5-1.5 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Rockroses are shrubs common in the maquis and in clearings of Turkish pine forest, opening flowers with paper-thin petals in spring. Their flowers give no nectar or very little; on the other hand they produce very abundant pollen. In the morning bees collect large amounts of pollen from freshly opened flowers in a short time.
Species in Turkey
- Cistus creticus (pink rockrose): the most common species.
- C. salviifolius (sage-leaved rockrose).
- C. monspeliensis and C. parviflorus: in coastal maquis.
- C. laurifolius: inland, under pine and oak.
Flowering
It flowers from April to June; each flower stays open for a single day, but new ones keep opening.
Honey and pollen
It does not contribute to honey. The pollen loads are yellow-orange. The sticky resin (ladanum) on the leaves and shoots may be collected by bees for propolis.
Note for the beekeeper
In the maquis, rockrose is a strong pollen support for spring brood.