Foxglove tree
A Chinese tree with purple foxglove-like flowers before the leaves in April-May, rich in nectar for spring build-up; its buds can freeze in harsh winters.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 10-20 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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The foxglove tree is a very fast-growing, large-leaved tree from central and eastern China; in Europe and Turkey it is planted as a park tree and, in recent years, as timber plantations, mostly with cultivars of hybrid origin. Its purple-lilac, fragrant, thimble-shaped flowers give plenty of nectar, and honeybees and bumblebees visit them intensively.
Flowering
It flowers for about 3-4 weeks in April-May, before leaf-out. The flower buds form the previous autumn and overwinter unprotected; in very cold winters they can be frozen, wiping out the flowering.
Honey and pollen
Although paulownia honey is mentioned in some countries where plantations are widespread, it is not a common commercial monofloral honey; its contribution usually goes into mixed spring honey.
Note for the beekeeper
It is considered invasive in North America, and in European towns it is also seen spreading on its own. If a plantation is to be established, non-seeding cultivars should be preferred.