Sweet box

Value for beekeeping

Sweet box is a low, shade-loving evergreen shrub of the box family; it is known only from cultivation and is thought to originate from China. Its small, creamy white flowers stay hidden in the leaf axils, but in winter they give off a strong honey scent. The flowers offer pollen and a small amount of nectar; honey bees out on mild winter days make use of this source.

Flowering

It flowers from December to March. During cold spells the buds wait and continue to open as the weather warms, so flowering lasts for weeks.

Honey and pollen

The quantity is small and does not show up in the honey; its importance is as a source of fresh pollen and sugar in midwinter.

Note for the beekeeper

It is one of the few winter-flowering plants that do well in shady corners such as under trees. Planted in a sheltered spot near the apiary, it becomes one of the first plants bees visit on cleansing flights. The black berries are not edible. Measured data on the beekeeping value of this species are scarce; the assessment is based on observation.