Virginia creeper

Value for beekeeping

Virginia creeper is a North American climber, widely planted to cover walls and fences and known for its five-part leaves that turn crimson in autumn. Its small, greenish, inconspicuous flowers are open in structure and secrete plenty of easily reached nectar; during flowering the plant hums with bees. In towns and around village houses it can fill the early summer nectar gap.

Flowering

It flowers from June to August; flowering lasts a few weeks and is somewhat later on shaded walls. It may overlap with lime or follow right after it.

Honey and pollen

Besides nectar it also gives a small amount of pollen. It is not harvested as a separate honey and ends up in summer honeys.

Note for the beekeeper

The dark blue berries are harmful to people; no harmful effect has been reported for its nectar or honey. In many European countries it is considered invasive, escaping to woodland edges and riverbanks; for new plantings native climbers may be preferred. During flowering there is heavy bee traffic in front of covered walls.