Aleppo pine
A Mediterranean pine closely related to Turkish pine; thanks to the pine scale insect living on it, it is a main source of Greek pine honey. Honeydew flow peaks in autumn.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Crystallisation
- Slow
- Height
- 10-20 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Aleppo pine is a very drought-tolerant pine ranging from the western and central Mediterranean to the Middle East. It is very close to Turkish red pine; some authors treat red pine as a subspecies of it. In Turkey its natural range is limited to small areas in the south-eastern Mediterranean region, though it covers more ground in plantations. It gives no nectar; its value is the honeydew left by the pine scale living on the trunk and branches.
Flowering
It sheds pollen in March-April; bees hardly turn to this pollen.
Honey and pollen
The honeydew flow is strongest in autumn, on cool, humid days after rain; there is also a weaker period in spring. Pine honey is a dark amber honeydew honey, not very sweet, rich in minerals and very slow to crystallise.
Note for the beekeeper
Go to the honeydew flow with strong colonies and have pollen supplements ready to cover shortages. In dry, hot autumns the flow weakens.