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Mandarin orange
Citrus reticulata · Rutaceae
TreeHoneydew source
Good spring nectar source contributing to citrus honey; in some seedless cultivars bee pollination causes unwanted seeds.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 2-5 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Mandarin flowers give plenty of fragrant nectar; together with orange they make up the spring flow of Mediterranean coastal apiaries. Pollen is moderate. The nectar has a high sugar content, and bees work from the early morning hours.
Flowering
In Adana, Mersin, Antalya and Muğla in April-May, lasting about 2-3 weeks in an orchard.
Honey and honeydew
Mandarin nectar is not extracted separately; it is part of citrus honey. Citrus aphids and scale insects leave honeydew in some years.
Note for the beekeeper
- Clementines and some hybrid mandarin varieties produce seeded fruit when fertilised by foreign pollen; for this reason, placing hives near orchards is restricted in parts of Spain and the USA. Find out whether there is any such dispute in your area.
- This problem is minor in seedless varieties such as satsuma.
- Sprays during flowering are the main source of risk.