Biting stonecrop
A succulent forming low mats on sand, walls and roofs with bright yellow star flowers in early summer; it gives bees nectar and pollen.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0.05-0.1 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Biting stonecrop is a plant with tiny fleshy leaves that spreads on dry, poor sites such as dunes, stony ground, old walls and roofs. Its bright yellow, five-pointed star-shaped flowers cover the plant. Nectar is secreted by small scales at the base of the flower and, being exposed, is easily taken by honey bees; pollen is also collected.
Flowering
It flowers for about 3-4 weeks between June and July. Being highly drought-tolerant, it keeps flowering even in dry places.
Honey and pollen
Because it covers only small areas, its contribution to honey is limited; there is no monofloral honey.
Note for the beekeeper
It grows easily on green roofs and in rock gardens and can be used as ground cover around the hives. The plant's sharp taste comes from pungent compounds and eating it is not recommended; no reports are known of this passing into honey. For a longer-lasting source, other stonecrop species and sedums can also flower until late summer.