Bay laurel
An evergreen tree of Mediterranean coasts with separate male and female trees; its yellowish flowers give bees nectar and pollen in early spring.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 2-10 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Bay laurel is an evergreen tree or shrub growing in maquis and along streams on the Aegean, Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. The small, yellowish-white flowers open in clusters in the leaf axils; male trees offer pollen and nectar, female trees mainly nectar.
Flowering
It flowers for about 3-4 weeks between March and April, on the coast sometimes from late February. This early source supports brood rearing in colonies that begin to build up at the end of winter.
Honey and pollen
Although honeys sold locally as laurel honey can be found, it is not a commercial or widespread monofloral honey; its nectar usually ends up in mixed spring honey.
Note for the beekeeper
Turkey is one of the world's leading producers of dried bay leaves. In areas heavily pruned for leaf harvesting, flowering declines. In coastal villages with laurel woods it provides a suitable source for early-spring apiaries.