Plum
A fruit tree covered in white blossom before leafing out in early spring and much visited by bees; its nectar and pollen speed spring build-up.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 4-10 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Plum is one of the earliest-flowering fruit trees and is visited by bees more eagerly than apple or pear. The nectar in the cup of the white flowers is easily accessible to honey bees, and plenty of pollen is collected as well. Garden and village plums together with wild plums form an extensive early source.
Flowering
It flowers for about 10-14 days between March and April, often before the leaves appear. Cold, wet weather at this time limits bee flight and pollination; hives placed in a sunny spot close to the orchard work harder.
Honey and pollen
No monofloral honey is produced; its contribution goes to the colonies' spring build-up and to early mixed honey.
Note for the beekeeper
Many cultivars are self-sterile, so they should be planted together with compatible pollinator cultivars and a good density of bees should be ensured. Plum blossom is a signal for expanding hives early; at this time the queen's laying speeds up and the colony may start to run short of space.