Caucasian whortleberry
Understorey shrub of eastern Black Sea forests; its bell-shaped May–June flowers offer bees nectar, a local and moderate contribution.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 1-3 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Caucasian whortleberry is a shrub growing in the understorey of the moist beech, chestnut and spruce forests of the eastern Black Sea region, especially in Rize, Artvin and Trabzon, together with rhododendrons. Its bell-shaped flowers, greenish-white to reddish, open in drooping racemes and give bees nectar. Its pollen is hard for honey bees to reach.
Flowering
Depending on altitude it flowers in May–June for about two to three weeks. For apiaries moving up to the high summer pastures it is one of the intermediate sources below the tree line.
Honey and pollen
No separate honey is produced; its nectar blends into Black Sea forest blossom honey. Measurement data on its nectar and pollen value are very limited.
Note for the beekeeper
In the forests where it grows, purple- and yellow-flowered rhododendrons flowering at the same time cause mad honey, so honey taken from these areas in May–June should be kept separate. Because its dried leaves are brewed like tea locally, it is also known as tea grape.