Guelder-rose
Shrub of damp places; in May–June bees gather a little nectar and moderate pollen from the small fertile flowers in the centre of each cluster.
- Nectar
- Low
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 2-4 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Guelder-rose grows along streams, in moist forest clearings and in waterside scrub; in the Kayseri area it is also grown in gardens for its fruit. The large white flowers on the outside of the flower cluster are sterile and serve only to attract insects. The small fertile flowers in the centre give bees a little nectar and a moderate amount of pollen.
Flowering
It flowers in May–June and stays in bloom for about two weeks. Bees come mostly for pollen; the nectar flow becomes noticeable in warm, humid weather.
Honey and pollen
No separate honey is produced. Its contribution is limited to the diversity of pollen in late spring.
Note for the beekeeper
In the ball-shaped snowball varieties planted as ornamentals in gardens all the flowers are sterile and give bees nothing; for bee-friendly planting choose the wild form or fruiting varieties. The red berries can cause stomach upset when eaten raw and in large amounts.