Mesquite
A thorny tree of tropical drylands; its yellow spikes give abundant nectar and pollen, and mesquite honey is produced in India, Africa and the Americas.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Good
- Flowering
- Flowering time varies with region and rainfall.
- Crystallisation
- Fast
- Height
- 3-12 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Mesquite is a spiny tree native to Mexico, the Caribbean and northern South America, highly tolerant of drought and salinity. Its yellowish-cream cylindrical spikes carry thousands of tiny flowers; honey bees collect both abundant nectar and pollen. It is an important honey source in India, Pakistan, Sudan, Kenya and Peru.
Flowering
In tropical regions it flowers once or twice a year depending on the rainfall pattern, usually at the end of the dry season; in India the main period is February to April. Because it varies by region, no single month range is given.
Honey and pollen
Mesquite honey is light amber, mild and sweet; it crystallises quickly and finely. Honey from related species is sold as kiawe in Hawaii and as algarrobo in Peru.
Note for the beekeeper
It is a severe invader in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia; it does not occur in Turkey or Europe. In the new classification the American Prosopis species have been moved to the genus Neltuma; Turkey's native Prosopis farcta is a separate species.