Upright myrtle spurge

Value for beekeeping

Upright myrtle spurge is a perennial spurge with thick, fleshy, bluish, pointed leaves that grows on dry, stony slopes and degraded pastures from southern Europe to Anatolia and the Middle East. In spring honey bees and other insects visit the open nectar glands in its yellowish-green flower clusters. Because it is common in Turkey, especially in western and southern Anatolia, it is a local source of nectar and pollen early in the season.

Flowering

It flowers from March to May, earlier on the coast and later at higher altitudes. The flower clusters stay open for weeks and may turn reddish over time.

Honey and pollen

It is not harvested as a separate honey; it ends up in mixed spring honeys. Its pollen contribution is small.

Note for the beekeeper

Livestock avoid it because of its poisonous sap, so it spreads on overgrazed pastures and stands out there when few other flowers are available. The sap irritates skin and eyes. Reliable data on the effect of this species on the taste and quality of honey are scarce; assessments are based on general knowledge of spurges.