Black pine
A pine forming extensive forests in Anatolian mountains; no nectar, but its resin feeds propolis. Aphid honeydew helps a little in some years; it is not the main pine-honey source.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 20-40 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Black pine ranges from southern Europe to Anatolia and forms extensive forests in Turkey in Central Anatolia, the Lakes Region, the Taurus Mountains and the mountains of northern Anatolia; the subspecies in Turkey is the Anatolian black pine. Pines are wind-pollinated and give no nectar. The value of black pine for beekeeping lies in its resin and, in some years, in the honeydew left by aphids.
Flowering
In May-June the male cones release clouds of yellow pollen. Bees collect this pollen only when other sources are scarce; pine pollen is of low nutritional value.
Honey and pollen
The honeydew honey known in Turkey as pine honey comes almost entirely from the pine scale living on Turkish red pine; black pine contributes little to it. In black pine forests, aphids living on the trees can produce a small honeydew flow in some years.
Note for the beekeeper
The real value of black pine forests lies in the milk vetch, thyme and other upland plants in forest clearings and along the edges. Bees collect the tree resin for propolis; apiaries near black pine stands can be good for propolis production.