Elecampane

Value for beekeeping

Elecampane is a large-leaved perennial that can exceed 2 metres and grows in damp meadows, along streams, in woodland clearings and on the remains of old gardens. It originates from Central Asia, but having been cultivated in Europe and Anatolia for a long time, it has gone wild in many places. Its large heads, 6–8 cm across and fringed with narrow, slender yellow ray florets, produce plenty of pollen; honey bees, bumblebees and solitary bees visit them often.

Flowering

It flowers from July to September; at the end of summer, when the meadows have dried up, it is a conspicuous source.

Honey and pollen

It has no honey of its own. The pollen loads are yellowish and help meet the protein needs of colonies preparing for winter.

Note for the beekeeper

In bee gardens with damp, deep soil it is easily propagated from the root and stays put for years. A clump of a few plants in a shady, damp corner helps fill the late-summer pollen gap.