Rose of Sharon
An East Asian ornamental shrub flowering into late summer; its single flowers offer bees coarse whitish pollen and moderate nectar.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Pollen colour
- Height
- 2-4 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Rose of Sharon is a deciduous shrub from China and Korea, very widely planted in parks, gardens and along roads in Turkey. The long column in the centre of the single flowers carries plenty of pollen; the large, spiny grains stick to the bees' backs. Nectar is secreted at the base of the petals; besides honey bees, bumblebees and solitary bees visit often.
Flowering
It flowers from July to September; each flower lasts a day, but the shrub keeps producing new ones for weeks. In late summer it is a reliable source for urban apiaries.
Honey and pollen
No single-flower honey is produced. The pollen loads are whitish cream.
Note for the beekeeper
Double varieties are of almost no value to bees; when planting, choose single varieties with a dark-blotched centre. It tolerates drought and pruning and can also be used as a hedge.