Sweet thorn
Common thorny acacia of southern Africa whose yellow ball flowers give bees plenty of pollen and some nectar in early summer.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Good
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecSouthern hemisphere months
- Height
- 5-12 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Sweet thorn is one of the most common trees of savanna, watercourses and abandoned fields in countries such as South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. It is recognised by its long white thorns and its fragrant, bright yellow, ball-shaped flowers. Honey bees visit it heavily, mainly for pollen; the amount of nectar is moderate to low.
Flowering
In the southern hemisphere it flowers in early summer, roughly from November to February, in flushes after rain.
Honey and pollen
It is not known as a common monofloral honey; it goes into the local mixed summer honey. In South African beekeeping its value lies more in pollen and colony development.
Note for the beekeeper
It does not occur naturally in Europe or Turkey; in Mediterranean countries it is occasionally seen as an ornamental or hedge tree. In Australia it is regarded as an invasive weed tree. Measured data on nectar and yield for this species are limited.