Dear Bee and Nature Friends,
The following over 120 medicinal bee plants have multiple uses: food and medicinal sources for bees (nectar, pollen, resins, and balsams), as food sources and natural drugs potentially for every living being, including us!
If you have the possibility to protect or grow these plants please DO IT!!! Ask your local gardener, if necessary, for more «technical» advice. By protecting these plants you protect your own, and others, Life and Health! If you know of other medicinal bee plants in your area, please update us.
We will be happy to spread your word!
Useful Articles on Medicinal and Bee Plants
Useful Books on Medicinal and Bee Plants
MEDICINAL BEE TREES
| Common name | Latin name | Useful parts | Crop (honey/ha) |
| FIR TREE | Abies alba | buds, resins, essential oils, pollen, sap for honeydew honey | 15-20 kg/ha |
| SWEET CHESTNUT | Castanea sativa | fruits, nectar, pollen
|
30-120 kg/ha |
| HORSE-CHESTNUT | Aesculus hippocastanum
|
nectar, pollen, seeds | 30-100 kg/ha |
| BEECH TREE | Fagus silvatica | leaves, bark, nectar, pollen, sap for honeydew honey | 20 kg/ha |
| ASH TREE | Fraxinus excelsior | leaves, pollen, sap for honeydew honey | 15-20 kg/ha |
| FIELD MAPLE | Acer campestre | bark, nectar, pollen, sap for honeydew honey | 200-400 kg/ha |
| BIRCH TREE | Betula alba
|
leaves, resins, resins and balsams, pollen, sap for honeydew honey
Betula pubescens |
8-10 kg/ha |
| ROUND LOGS SPRUCE | Picea excelsa | Resins, essential oils, pollen, sap for honeydew honey | 15-20 kg/ha |
| WALNUT | Juglans regia
 |
Leaves, fruits, pollen
|
—- |
| COMMON OAK | Quercus robur
|
honeydew honey | —- |
| GOLDEN RAINTREE | Koelreuteria paniculata | Flowers, nectar, pollen | 100-200 kg/ha |
| NORWAY MAPLE | Acer platanoides | Flowers, bark, nectar, pollen, sap for honeydew honey | 100-200 kg/ha |
| PINE | Pinus silvestris | Resins, buds, essential oils, pollen, sap for honeydew honey | —- |
| POPLAR | Populus nigra
|
buds, resins and balsams, pollen, sap for honeydew honey
|
—- |
| JAPANESE PAGODA TREE | Sophora japonica | Leaves, flowering buds; small, young branches; fruits nectar, pollen | 300-350 kg/ha |
| ACACIA | Robinia pseudoacacia
|
Flowers, pollen, nectar
|
1000 kg/ha |
| WHITE WILLOW | Salix alba | bark, nectar, pollen, sap for honeydew honey | 100-120 kg/ha |
| GOAT WILLOW | Salix caprea | bark, nectar, pollen | 100-200 kg/ha |
| OAK | Quercus robur | bark, pollen, sap for honeydew honey | —- |
| SILVER LINDEN | Tilia tomentosa | flowers, nectar, pollen | 1200 kg/ha |
| LARGE LEAVED LIME | Tilia platyphyllos | flowers, pollen, nectar
|
800 kg/ha |
| SMALL LEAVED LIME | Tilia cordata | flowers, nectar, pollen
|
1000 kg/ha |
| ELM TREE | Ulmus campestris | bark, pollen, sap for honeydew honey | 8-10 kg/ha |
| HONEY-LOCUST TREE | Gleditsia triacanthos | fruits, nectar, pollen | —- |
| COMMON (BLACK) ALDER | Alnus glutinosa | 
pollen, bark |
—- |
| SOURWOOD
Sorrel tree |
Oxydendrum arboreum | flowers, nectar, leaves (laxative) | honey is very good against infected wounds |
SHRUBS
| Common name | Latin name | Useful parts | Crop (honey/ha) |
| BILBERRY BUSH | Vaccinium myrtillus | Leaves, fruits, nectar, pollen | 10-12 kg/ha |
| GOOSEBERRY BARBERRY | Ribes grossularia/uva crispa | fruits, nectar, pollen | 25-70 kg/ha |
| GOLDEN FLOWERING CURRANT | Ribes aureum | fruits, nectar, pollen | —- |
| HAZELNUT TREE FILBERT | Corylus avellana
|
fruits, pollen, sap for honeydew honey
|
15-20 kg/ha |
| BOX TREE | Buxus sempervirens | Leaves, roots, wood, nectar, pollen | —- |
| SNOWBALL TREE | Viburnum opulus | bark, nectar, pollen | 25-40 kg/ha |
| COMMON SEA BUCKTHORN | Hippophae rhamnoides | fruits, nectar, pollen | 25 kg/ha |
| SALTCEDAR | Tamarix ramosissima/galica | bark, roots, branches, flowers, leaves with branches, nectar, pollen | 25 kg/ha |
| BLACK CURRANT. CASSIS | Ribes nigrum | leaves, fruits, nectar, pollen | 10-30 kg/ha |
| ALDER BUCKTHORN | Rhamnus frangula | bark, nectar, pollen | 35-100 kg/ha |
| BARBERRY | Berberis vulgaris | bark from the roots and stem, fruits, nectar, pollen | 30 kg/ha |
| IVY | Hedera helix | leaves, nectar, pollen | —- |
| ROSEHIPS Hipberry | Rosa canina
|
pseudofruits, fruits, nectar, pollen | 10-20 kg/ha |
| BLACKBERRY | Rubus fruticosus | leaves, fruits, nectar, pollen | —- |
| EUROPEAN DEWBERRY | Rubus caesius | fruits, nectar, pollen | 30-50 kg/ha |
| SMOOTH SUMAC | Rhus glabra/tiphina | nectar, pollen | 30-60 kg/ha |
| HAWTHORN | Crataegus sp.
|
flowers, leaves, fruits, nectar, pollen | 35-100 kg/ha |
| CHRIST’S THORN | Paliurus spina christi | fruits, nectar | |
| BLACKTHORN | Prunus spinosa
|
flowers, fruits, bark of the roots + stem; pollen, nectar | 25-40 kg/ha |
| ROSEMARY | Rosmarinus officinalis
|
flowers, nectar
|
—- |
| CORNEL TREE (BLOODY TWING) | Cornus sanguinea | fruits, bark, nectar, pollen | 20-30 kg/ha |
| VINE Grape-vine |
Vitis vinifera | fruits, nectar, pollen | 5-10 kg/ha |
| SWEET MOCK ORANGE. ENGLISH DOGWOOD | Philadelphus coronarius | flowers, nectar, pollen | 30 kg/ha |
| RASPBERRY | Rubus idaeus | leaves, fruits, nectar, pollen | 50-200 kg/ha |
| Strawberry Tree | Arbutus unedo | nectar, pollen, fruits | …. |
FRUIT TREES
| Common name | Latin name | Useful parts | Crop (honey/ha) |
| BLUEBERRY, Billberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | leaves, fruits, nectar, pollen
|
15-30 kg/ha |
| HAZELNUT | Corylus avellana | fruits, pollen, sap for honeydew honey | 15-20 kg/ha |
| APRICOT TREE | Prunus armeniaca | fruits, nectar, pollen | 25-40 kg/ha |
| CHERRY TREE | Prunus avium | fruits, nectar, pollen | 20-40 kg/ha |
| WAX CHERRY TREE | Prunus cerasifera | fruits, nectar, pollen | 25 kg/ha |
| CORNEL TREE | Cornus mas
|
leaves, bark, fruits, nectar, pollen
|
20 kg/ha |
| MULBERRY TREE (White fruits) | Morus alba | leaves, fruits (i)mature bark of roots, pollen | —- |
| MULBERRY TREE (Black fruits) | Morus nigra | leaves, fruits (i)mature, bark of roots, pollen | —- |
| QUINCE TREE | Cydonia oblonga | fruits, nectar, pollen | 30 kg/ha |
| LEMON TREE | Citrus limon | fruits, nectar, pollen | —- |
| APPLE TREE | Malus domestica | fruits, nectar, pollen
|
20-30 kg/ha |
| ALMOND TREE | Prunus amygdalus | fruits, nectar, pollen | |
| HAWTHORN | Crataegus sp.
|
flowers, leaves, fruits, nectar, pollen
|
35-100 kg/ha |
| PEAR TREE | Pyrus communis | leaves, fruits, bark, nectar, pollen | 8-20 kg/ha |
| PEACH TREE | Prunus persica | flowers, leaves, fruits, nectar, pollen | 20-40 kg/ha |
| PLUM TREE | Prunus domestica | fruits, nectar, pollen | 20-30 kg/ha |
| CHERRY TREE (Sour fruits) | Prunus cerasus | fruits, nectar, pollen | 30-40 kg/ha |
| VINE (Grape-vine) | Vitis vinifera | leaves, grapes, spring sap, wine, nectar, pollen | 5-10 kg/ha |
| RASPBERRY | Rubus idaeus | leaves, fruits, nectar, pollen | 50-200 kg/ha |
| Strawberry Tree | Arbutus unedo | nectar, pollen, fruits | … …. |
TREES, SHRUBS for HEDGES
| Common name | Latin name | Useful parts | Crop (honey/ha) |
| BILBERRY | Vaccinium myrtillus
|
nectar, pollen, leaves, fruits | 15-30 kg./ha |
| BOX TREE | Buxus sempervirens | leaves, roots, wood, nectar, pollen | —- |
| ALDER BUCKTHORN | Rhamnus frangula | bark, nectar, pollen | 35-100 kg/ha |
| BARBERRY | Berberis vulgaris | bark of roots and stem, fruits, nectar, pollen | 30 kg/ha |
| HONEY-LOCUST TREE (Gleditsia | Gleditsia triacanthos
|
fruits, nectar, pollen | —- |
| LILAC | Syringa vulgaris | flowers, nectar, pollen | 10-20 kg/ha |
| ROSEHIPS | Rosa canina
|
pseudo-fruits, fruits, nectar, pollen | 10-20 kg/ha |
| HAWTHORN | Crataegus sp. | flowers, leaves, fruits, nectar, pollen | 35-100 kg/ha |
| CHRIST’S THORN | Paliurus spina christi | fruits, nectar | —- |
| BLACK THORN | Prunus spinosa
|
flowers, fruits,
bark from roots + stem; pollen, nectar |
25-40 kg/ha |
| ROSEMARY | Rosmarinus officinalis | flowers, nectar
|
—- |
| ACACIA | Robinia pseudoacacia | flowers,
pollen, nectar |
1000 kg/ha !! |
| BUCKTHORN | Rhamnus cathartica | fruits, nectar | —- |
| HIBISCUS SP. | Hibiscus esculentum. | herba, nectar, pollen | —- |
| VERVAIN | Verbena officinalis | nectar | —- |
PERENNIAL MEDICINAL BEE PLANTS
| Common name | Latin name | Useful parts | Crop (honey/ha) |
| ANGELICA | Archangelica officinalis | fruits, roots, nectar, pollen | 90 kg/ha |
| ARTICHOKE | Cynara scolymus | leaves, nectar, pollen | 150-400 kg/ha |
| BEAR’S GARLIC | Allium ursinum
|
nectar, pollen, leaves
|
1kg./day/hive |
| COMFREY | Symphitum officinale
|
nectar, pollen, roots
|
130-220 kg./ha |
| OREGANO | Origanum vulgare | herba, essential oils, nectar, pollen | —- |
| CATMINT | Nepeta cataria | nectar, leaves, flowers with stems | |
| CHICORY | Cichorium intybus | herba, roots, rhizome, nectar, pollen | 100 kg/ha |
| SHEPHERD’S THYME | Thymus serpyllum | herba, nectar, pollen | 200 kg/ha |
| THYME | Thymus vulgaris | herba, seeds, nectar, pollen | |
| FOENICULUM Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare | Seeds, nectar, pollen | 25-100 kg/ha |
| SNOWDROP | Galanthus nivalis | bulb, nectar, pollen | —- |
| BIRD’S FOOT TREFOIL | Lotus corniculatus | leaves, flowers, nectar, pollen | 15-30 kg/ha |
| HOPS | Humulus lupulus | cones, nectar | —- |
| HYSSOP | Hyssopus officinalis | herba, essential oils, nectar, pollen | 50-100 kg/ha |
| LAVENDER | Lavandula angustifolia
|
flowers, essential oils, nectar, pollen | 50-100 kg/ha |
| ALFALFA | Medicago sativa | germinated seeds, nectar, pollen | 25-200 kg/ha |
| MINT | Mentha piperita
|
herba, nectar, pollen | 100-200 kg/ha |
| MALLOW | Malva silvestris | ripped seeds, nectar, pollen
|
30-50 kg/ha |
| DANDELION | Taraxacum officinale
|
herba, roots, nectar, pollen
|
200 kg/ha |
| COLT’S FOOT | Tussilago farfara L. | flowers, leaves, nectar, pollen | —- |
| EPILOBIUM, Willow herb | Chamenerion/Epilobium hyrsutum | herb, nectar, pollen | 40-60 kg/ha |
| BALM MINT | Melissa officinalis
|
leaves, nectar, pollen | 100-150 kg/ha |
| MEADOW SAGE, GARDEN SAGE | Salvia pratensis, Salvia off. | leaves, nectar, pollen | 280 kg/ha |
| GREATER CELANDINE | Chelidonium officinalis
|
nectar, pollen, herba
|
— |
| SEA HOLLY; FIELD ERYNGO | Eryngium planum, campestre | herba, nectar, pollen | 100-150 kg/ha |
| ASPARAGUS | Asparagus officinalis | plant, nectar, pollen | —- |
| GOLDEN ROD | Solidago virgaurea | herba, nectar, pollen | |
| SWEET CLOVER (Melilot) | Melilotus officinalis
|
young branches, nectar, pollen | 150-300 kg/ha |
| MOTHERWORT | Leonurus cardiaca
|
young branches, nectar, pollen | 200-400 kg/ha |
| WHITE CLOVER | Trifolium repens | flowers, nectar, pollen | 100-250 kg/ha |
| RED CLOVER | Trifolium pratense | flowers, nectar, pollen | 25-50 kg/ha |
| HOREHOUND | Marrubium vulgare | young branches, nectar, pollen | 50 kg/ha |
| DEAD NETTLE | Lamium album | herba, nectar, pollen | 50-150 kg/ha |
| MISTLETOE | Viscum album | leaves, branches, nectar | —- |
| HEMP-AGRIMONY/ HOLY ROPE |
Eupatorium cannabinum | herba, nectar, pollen | —- |
| SPEEDWELL | Veronica officinalis | flowers, nectar, pollen | 40 kg/ha |
| SAINT JOHN’S WORT | Hypericum perforatum
|
herba, pollen
|
—- |
| EVENING PRIMROSE |
|
herba, pollen | —- |
| Common name | Latin name | Useful parts | Crop (honey/ha) |
| CORN FLOWER | Centaurea cyanus | flowers, nectar, pollen | 60 kg/ha |
| BLACK CUMIN | Nigella sativa | nectar, pollen, seeds | —– |
| DILL | Anethum graveolens | herba, nectar, pollen | —– |
| ANISE | Pimpinella anisum | fruits, essential oils, nectar, pollen | 50 kg/ha |
| BASIL | Ocimum basilicum
|
herba without old (woody) branches, essential oils, nectar, pollen | 100-120 Kg/ha |
| CORIANDER | Coriandrum sativum | seeds, nectar, pollen | 100-500 kg/ha |
| PUMPKIN | Cucurbita maxima
|
seeds, nectar, pollen | 75-105 kg/ha |
| BEAN | Phaseolus vulgaris | hull of seeds (fructus phaseoli sine semine); nectar | —- |
| SUNFLOWER | Helianthus annuus
|
seeds, oil, nectar, pollen | 34-102 kg/ha |
| MARIGOLD | Calendula officinalis
|
flowers, nectar, pollen
|
—- |
| BUCKWHEAT | Fagopyrum esculentum
|
seeds, herba with flowers; nectar, pollen
|
50-60 kg/ha |
| LING | Calluna vulgaris | Small young branches with complete open leaves, nectar, pollen | 200 kg/ha |
| FLAX | Linum usitatissimum | seeds, nectar, pollen | 10 kg/ha |
| RED POPPY | Papaver rhoeas
|
seeds, pollen, nectar | —- |
| MUSTARD (white) | Sinapis alba | seeds, nectar, pollen | 40 kg/ha |
| CHARLOCK | Sinapis arvensis | seeds, nectar, pollen | 40 kg/ha |
| MELON | Cucumis melo | fruit, nectar, pollen | 10-40 Kg/ha |
| WATER MELLON | Citrullus lanatus | fruit, seeds, nectar, pollen | 40-100 kg/ha |
| CORN | Zea mays | stygmata maydis; seeds; pollen | —- |
| RADISH | Raphanus sativus | nectar, pollen | 40-50 kg/ha |
| BEET | Beta vulgaris | roots, nectar, pollen | 5-15 kg/ha |
| WHITE SWEET CLOVER | Melilotus alba | flowers, herba, nectar, pollen | 200-500 kg/ha |
| CABBAGE | Brassica oleracea | leaves, nectar, pollen | 20-30 kg/ha |
| VERVAIN | Verbena officinalis | herba, nectar | —- |
If you live in a tropical climate I strongly suggest you to visit and study the excellent website made by our wonderful German friend that now lives in Paradise = Brazil, Heilpraktiker Igor Rosegger.
His website, Matamba Nectar , has a special section dedicated, besides Yoga and Ayurveda, to the medicinal bee plants: http://www.matamba-nectar.org/html/list_of_medicinal_bee_plants.html
In Brazil also, please contact José Luiz Vazquez Seijas who wrote also a paper on Brazilian Medicinal Bee Plants. The e-mail of José Luiz is: josevazquezsj@yahoo.com.br + jvazquezseijas@gmail.com
For medicinal bee plants in Turkey please contact our Apitherapy Internet Course graduate student, Mr. Orhan Kosi . His e-mail is: orhankosi@gmail.com
Mr Kosi has made an excellent presentation on the medicinal bee plants from Turkey during our XI-Th. Apitherapy Congress in Passau, Germany, on March 22-Nd. You find his PDF here:
For medicinal plants in Morocco, please contact our very good friend, Pharm. Rachid Kacemi . His e-mail address is: kacemi@gmail.com
For bee plants in Egypt, please read the article written by Dr. Hossam Abou-Shaara (Damanhour University): Bee-Plants-from-Egypt
For bee plants in Finland, see: https://www.slideshare.net/hunajanet/kasvikalvot
Medicinal bee plants in the Serbian language: Medonosne i lekovite biljke (Translator Lorencio Miksa)
If you would like to learn, from the practical point of view too, how to collect, process, store and then mix these medicinal-bee plants with beehive products and/or essential oils, join our Intensive Apitherapy Courses & Hands-on Workshops in Romania. See more details in this page.
