Border forsythia
The eye-catching yellow shrub of early spring, yet of low value to bees: little nectar or pollen, and honey bees mostly pass it by.
- Nectar
- Low
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 1.5-3 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Border forsythia, with yellow flowers that cover the branches completely before the leaves appear, is one of the most striking spring shrubs in gardens. As a bee plant, however, it is poor: the flowers contain little nectar and pollen, and honey bees clearly prefer sources flowering at the same time, such as willow, plum and cornelian cherry.
Flowering
It flowers for about 2-3 weeks in March-April. The start of flowering is used in the garden calendar as a sign of early spring.
Honey and pollen
It does not contribute to honey production. Most cultivars of Forsythia × intermedia, a hybrid garden plant, have a single flower type; as a result fruit set is poor and the reward for bees remains limited.
Note for the beekeeper
When planting around the apiary for early spring, choose species rich in pollen and nectar, such as goat willow, cornelian cherry, almond or plum, instead of forsythia. Existing shrubs are harmless and can be counted as a small extra source.