Crocus
Crocuses open as soon as snow melts, giving plenty of orange pollen and some nectar; Turkey is among the richest countries for crocus species, some of which flower in autumn.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Good
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Pollen colour
- Height
- 0.05-0.15 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Crocuses are among the most important early pollen sources of spring. On sunny days the flowers open wide like cups, and bees quickly collect plump orange loads from the large anthers. The nectar lies at the bottom of the long corolla tube; when the flower is fully open, honey bees can reach part of it.
Flowering
Spring species flower in February-March at low elevations and in April-May on high pastures as soon as the snow melts. Autumn species (e.g. C. speciosus, C. pallasii) flower between September and November, adding pollen during the period when winter bees are reared. The flowers close in cloudy, cool weather.
Honey and pollen
They do not contribute to honey production; their value is early, abundant pollen. Turkey is among the richest countries in the world for crocus species.
Note for the beekeeper
Colchicum species, known as autumn crocus, belong to a different family and the plant itself is highly poisonous; do not confuse them. Planting garden crocuses in lawns and under trees around the apiary is a cheap and permanent early pollen source.