Blackthorn
Thorny shrub covered in white blossom before leafing; in March-April it is an early spring source of nectar and pollen following the willows.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 1-4 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Blackthorn is a densely thorny shrub that is covered in a blanket of white blossom before its leaves appear. It is one of the first shrubs to give nectar and pollen in early spring and helps the colony's spring build-up. It forms large, dense thickets in hedges, along woodland edges and on abandoned land.
Flowering
It flowers for about 2-3 weeks in March-April. As the weather is often cool at this time, how much the bees can use it depends on the number of mild days.
Honey and pollen
Because the early flow is consumed in the hive, it gives no separate honey. Pollen is collected in moderate amounts.
Note for the beekeeper
Blackthorn hedges are a spring source that comes after the willows and before the orchards. Their dense thorns give shelter to birds and small animals; protecting them along field margins is recommended. The astringent fruit ripens in autumn, softens after the first frosts and is used in products such as jam and fruit syrup.