White mulberry

Value for beekeeping

White mulberry is wind-pollinated and gives no nectar. Its male catkins release their pollen into the air with a sudden, explosive movement; bees collect only a limited amount of this pollen. The mulberry's value for beekeeping is therefore low.

Flowering

It flowers in April-May as the leaves unfold. Some trees bear only male flowers, some only female flowers, and some bear both.

Honey and pollen

It does not contribute to honey. Bees sometimes take the juice of ripe fruit that has fallen and been crushed, but this is of no value for honey.

Note for the beekeeper

Although mulberry is very common around villages and gardens in Turkey, it is not a priority species when planning bee forage. In hot regions its broad crown can be useful for shading hives at midday in summer. Because its leaves are the food of the silkworm, white mulberry has been widely planted in silk-producing regions throughout history.