Field bindweed

Value for beekeeping

The white or pink funnel-shaped flowers of field bindweed open in the morning and close in the afternoon. Nectar is secreted from a ring-shaped gland at the base of the flower, and the honey bee easily enters the short funnel. Secretion becomes noticeable in warm, humid weather and in irrigated fields; in dry heat it falls sharply. Pollen loads are pale.

Flowering

From May to September it flowers without a break in fields, vineyards, gardens and along roadsides. Its long flowering gives bees a small but steady food supply during the summer dearth.

Honey and pollen

In Turkey it is not harvested as a separate honey; it goes into mixed summer honey. In some irrigated areas of eastern Europe and Central Asia it is mentioned as an important summer source.

Note for the beekeeper

With its deep roots it is a very hard weed to get rid of, and fields are treated heavily with herbicides. Near sprayed fields, take care during the periods when bees are visiting these flowers.