Date palm
The key crop of Middle Eastern and North African oases; the flower clusters of male palms give bees abundant late-winter pollen but no nectar.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Good
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 15-25 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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The date palm is the staple plant of oases in the hot, dry regions of the Middle East and North Africa. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. The large flower clusters of male palms produce huge amounts of pollen, which bees collect; female flowers give no nectar and hardly attract bees.
Flowering
Depending on the region it flowers between February and April. In commercial plantations pollination is mostly done by hand: male clusters are cut and hung in female trees, or pollen is sprayed on; for this reason the role of bees in fruit set is small.
Honey and pollen
No honey is obtained from the date palm. The pollen supports brood rearing in late winter and early spring; in oasis beekeeping it is an important source for this period.
Note for the beekeeper
In Turkey the date palm grows only in limited areas, mostly as an ornamental, and has no importance for beekeeping. Treatments against pests such as the red palm weevil in date plantations can affect colonies; be careful during application periods.