Viper's bugloss
One of the finest summer honey plants; it secretes nectar all day from June to September, even in dry weather, and its pollen loads are dark blue.
- Nectar
- Very good
- Pollen
- Good
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Crystallisation
- Slow
- Pollen colour
- Height
- 0,3-1 m
- Life cycle
- Biennial
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Viper's bugloss is a biennial that grows on dry, stony soils, road embankments, railway sides and abandoned land. Because its nectar is protected inside the funnel-shaped corolla, it is not washed out by rain and is secreted all day; the fact that secretion continues even in hot, dry weather makes it very valuable during the summer dearth. A single plant keeps opening new flowers for weeks and is heavily visited by both honey bees and wild bees.
Flowering
From June to September, for 10-12 weeks.
Honey and pollen
In New Zealand and some European countries a monofloral honey is obtained; it is very light in colour, mildly aromatic and granulates slowly. The pollen loads are navy to dark blue and easy to recognise in the hive.
Note for the beekeeper
The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids; these can be present in honey at measurable levels. In areas where viper's bugloss dominates, it is advisable to have the honey analysed. It can be sown as bee forage on poor, dry soils; since it flowers in its second year, sowing should be planned a year ahead.