Maritime pine
A resinous pine of western Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, planted in Turkish afforestation; no nectar, it gives bees resin and a little pollen, with limited honeydew.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Pollen colour
- Height
- 20-35 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
🐝 Add to my apiary
Log in to add it to your apiary.Value for beekeeping
Maritime pine grows naturally in Portugal, Spain, on the Atlantic coast of France, in Italy and in western North Africa; the Landes forest in France consists largely of this species. In Turkey it has been planted on the Marmara and Black Sea coasts for dune stabilisation and afforestation. It is wind-pollinated and gives no nectar.
Flowering
In April and May the male cones shed plenty of yellow pollen. Pine pollen has low nutritional value, so bees collect it only when there is no other source.
Honey and pollen
A strong honeydew producer like the pine scale insect on Turkish red pine is not common on this species; for this reason it is not considered a major source of pine honey. In some years aphids may produce a little honeydew. Its abundant resin is a source of propolis.
Note for the beekeeper
In South Africa and Australia it has escaped from plantations and become invasive. Maritime pine plantations in Turkey give bees no pine honey flow; in these areas apiary yield depends on the shrubs and herbs of the understorey.