Thorny burnet
A wind-pollinated, spiny cushion shrub that dominates Mediterranean coastal scrub; it has no nectar but supplies pollen in early spring.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0.3-0.6 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Thorny burnet is one of the most widespread species of the low scrub called phrygana on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. It is wind-pollinated; its small, petal-less flowers are clustered in spikes and produce no nectar. Bees collect pollen from the male flowers on mild spring days.
Flowering
It flowers between February and April, sometimes into May depending on altitude and rainfall. At this time thyme, sage and other phrygana plants are not yet in full bloom, so its pollen helps colonies in their first build-up.
Honey and pollen
It does not contribute to honey production. Its reddish fruits ripen in early summer and become swollen and spongy.
Note for the beekeeper
It spreads quickly on overgrazed and burnt land, forming dense cover; in the following weeks these areas, together with thyme and other aromatic plants, can make a good spring apiary site. Take care with its spines when clearing around hive stands.