Chinese chastetree
The summer honey plant of northern China's hills; its lilac flowers around July give abundant nectar, and one of China's main monofloral honeys comes from it.
- Nectar
- Very good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Crystallisation
- Medium
- Height
- 2-5 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Chinese chastetree, especially its variety heterophylla, forms extensive scrub on the dry hills of Hebei, Liaoning, Shanxi and the area around Beijing in northern China. In these regions it is the main source of the summer nectar flow, and by volume it is one of the leading monofloral honeys produced in China. It is also widespread in South and Southeast Asia.
Flowering
From late June to August it gives a flow lasting about a month. Nectar secretion increases in hot, humid weather, especially in the days after rain; long droughts weaken the flow markedly.
Honey and pollen
The honey is light amber, mild and pleasantly aromatic; over time it turns into a fine-grained, light-coloured crystallised honey. Its pollen contribution is moderate.
Note for the beekeeper
Its close relative in Turkey, the chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), is also a good bee plant in midsummer. Because Chinese chastetree is cold-hardy, it can be planted around apiaries in temperate regions, where it can serve as a shrub that bridges the summer dearth.