Oriental plane
The ancient tree of streams and village squares; wind-pollinated, with no nectar and pollen bees find unattractive. Its role for beekeepers is shade and a waterside habitat.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 20-30 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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The oriental plane is a giant tree that grows wild along streams from the Balkans and Anatolia to Iran and lives for centuries in village squares. Its flowers are small, ball-shaped heads strung on long stalks and are wind-pollinated. It gives no nectar; although pollen is plentiful, bees hardly collect it.
Flowering
It flowers briefly in April-May, together with leaf-out.
Honey and pollen
It is not a honey source and makes no significant pollen contribution.
Note for the beekeeper
The plane's value for beekeeping is indirect: along streams it provides shade in the summer heat and creates a moist environment where bee plants such as willow, bramble and clover grow. Placing hives on edges that get the morning sun rather than right under large planes makes the bees start flying earlier. Hairs from the leaves and fruits can irritate the airways in some people.