Melliferous flower

"Melliferous" redirects here. For the melliferous ant, see Honeypot ant. For other uses, see Mellification (disambiguation).

A melliferous flower is a plant which produces substances that can be collected by insects and turned into honey. Many plants are melliferous, but only certain examples can be harvested by honey bees, because of their physiognomy (body size and shape, length of proboscis, etc.). Apiculture classifies a plant as melliferous if it can be harvested by domesticated honey bees. The table below lists some of the known melliferous plants, and indicates the flowering period, as well as the resources harvested by bees (nectar, pollen, propolis, and honeydew). Each plant does not produce the same quantity or quality of these resources, and even among species the production can vary due to region, plant health, climate, etc.

Plant table

Plains plants

Image	Common name	Latin name	Flowering months	Nectar	Pollen	Propolis	Honeydew
File:Robinia Pseudoacacia flower.JPG	Black locust	Robinia pseudacacia	05–06	X	X	.	.
File:Papaver rhoeas mak polny small.jpg	Corn poppy	Papaver rhoeas	04–05	.	X	.	.
File:Cornus sanguinea0.jpg	Common dogwood	Cornus sanguinea	05–06	X	X	.	.
File:Ribes sanguineum blossom (aka).jpg	Ribes	Ribes rubrum	04–05	X	X	.	.
File:Hulst.jpg	European holly	Ilex aquifolium	05–06	X	X	.	.
File:Starr 010419-0021 Hedera helix.jpg	European ivy	Hedera helix	09–10	X	X	X	.
File:Senf bluete.jpg	White mustard	Sinapis alba	05–09	X	X	.	.
File:Katjes van een hazelaar (Corylus avellana). 26-01-2021. (actm.) 02.jpg	Hazel	Corylus avellana	01–03	.	X	.	X
File:Taraxacum 2005 spring 001.jpg	Dandelion	Taraxacum officinale	05–06	X	X	.	.
File:Salix caprea8.jpg	Goat willow	Salix caprea	02–04	X	X	.	.
File:Trefle3.jpg	White clover	Trifolium repens	05–07	X	X	.	.
File:Coltsfoot close-up aka.jpg	Coltsfoot	Tussilago farfara	02–04	.	X	.	.

Mediterranean plants

Image	Common name	Latin name	Flowering months	Nectar	Pollen	Propolis	Honeydew
	Almond	Prunus dulcis	02–04	X	X	.	.
File:Arbutus unedo b.JPG	Strawberry tree	Arbutus unedo	10–01	X	.	.	.
File:Buisfleurs.jpg	Buxus	Buxus sempervirens	04–05	X	X	.	.
File:MHNT Viburnum tinus.jpg	Viburnum tinus	Viburnum tinus	02–06	X	X	.	.
File:ChristianBauer flowering rosemary.jpg	Rosemary	Rosmarinus officinalis	11–04	X	X	.	.
File:Thymus vulgaris0.jpg	Thyme	Thymus vulgaris	04–09	X	.	.	.

Mountain plants

Image	Common name	Latin name	Flowering months	Nectar	Pollen	Propolis	Honeydew
File:Gewone engelwortel R0012882 bloem.JPG	Garden angelica	Angelica sylvestris	07–08	X	X	.	.
File:Arnica montana.JPG	Wolf's bane	Arnica montana	07–08	X	X	.	.
File:Erica cinera0.jpg	Erica	Erica cinerea	07–09	X	X	.	.
File:Calluna vulgaris (flower closeup).jpg	Calluna	Calluna vulgaris	08–10	X	X	.	.
File:Chestnut flowers.jpg	Sweet chestnut	Castanea sativa	06–07	X	X	.	X
File:Silybum marianum 2003-04-07.jpg	Milk thistle	Silybum marianum	07–08	X	X	.	.
File:Epilobum augustifolium Aug2003.jpg	Fireweed	Epilobium angustifolium	07–09	X	X	.	.
File:Acer pseudoplatanus Inflorescence BavariaMay2005.jpg	Sycamore	Acer pseudoplatanus	03–04	X	X	X	X
File:Noorse esdoorn bloeiwijze (Acer platanoides inflorescens).jpg	Norway maple	Acer platanoides	05–06	X	X	.	X
File:Raspberry-flower-2.jpg	Raspberry	Rubus idaeus	06–07	X	X	.	.
File:Gentiana lutea 090705a.jpg	Great yellow gentian	Gentiana lutea	07–08	X	X	.	.
File:Helleborus niger Rax 1.jpg	Hellebore	Helleborus niger	01–04	X	X	.	.
File:LyciumBarbarum-bloem-hr.jpg	Boxthorn	Lycium barbarum	07–08	X	X	.	.
File:Vaccinum myrtillus 020503.jpg	Blueberry	Vaccinium myrtillus	05–06	X	X	.	.
File:Snowdrop closeup 2005 01.jpg	Snowdrop	Galanthus nivalis	01–03	X	X	.	.
File:Rhododendron.jpg	Rhododendron	Rhododendron ferrugineum	06–08	X	X	.	.
File:Abies alba - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-001.jpg	Silver fir	Abies alba	05	.	X	.	X
File:Satureja montana0.jpg	Savory	Satureja montana	07–08	X	.	.	.
File:Thymus serpyllum1.jpg	Wild thyme	Thymus serpyllum	06–09	X	.	.	.
File:Filipendula ulmaria10.jpg	Rowan	Sorbus aucuparia	05–06	X	X	X	.

Cultured plants

Image	Common name	Latin name	Flowering months	Nectar	Pollen	Propolis	Honeydew
File:Sonnenblume.jpg	Sunflower	Helianthus annuus	07–08	X	X	.	.
File:Single lavender flower02.jpg	Lavender	Lavandula intermedia	06–07	X	X	.	.