Northern Nectar Sources for Honeybees

The nectar source in a given area depends on the type of vegetation

Vegetation

Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...

present and the length of their bloom period. What type of vegetation will grow in an area depends on soil texture, soil pH, soil drainage, daily maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation, extreme minimum winter temperature, and growing degree days. The plants listed below are plants that grow in USDA Hardiness zone

Hardiness zone

A hardiness zone is a geographically defined area in which a specific category of plant life is capable of growing, as defined by climatic conditions, including its ability to withstand the minimum temperatures of the zone...

5. A good predictor for when a plant will bloom and produce nectar is a calculation of the growing degree day

Growing degree day

Growing degree days , also called growing degree units , are a heuristic tool in phenology. GDD are a measure of heat accumulation used by horticulturists, gardeners, and farmers to predict plant and pest development rates such as the date that a flower will bloom or a crop reach...

s. Hopkins' Bioclimatic Law states that in North America east of the Rockies, a 130 m (400-foot) increase in elevation, a 4° change in latitude

Latitude

In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...

north (444.48 km), or a 10° change in longitude

Longitude

Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....

east (two thirdth of a time zone

Time zone

A time zone is a region on Earth that has a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. In order for the same clock time to always correspond to the same portion of the day as the Earth rotates , different places on the Earth need to have different clock times...

) will cause any given biological event to occur four days later in the spring or four days earlier in the fall.
In botany

Botany

Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...

, the term phenology

Phenology

Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate...

refers to the timing of flower emergence, sequence of bloom, fruiting, and leaf drop in autumn.

The classification in major or minor nectar source is very dependent on the agricultural use of the land. Agricultural crops like canola and alfalfa may be a major or minor source depending on local plantings. Generally, the more diverse a forage area is, the better for a stationary apiary. Urban, suburban and areas not under cultivation provide more consistent year-round nectar forage than areas that are heavily cultivated with a few agricultural crops. The nectar sources from large cultivated fields of blooming apples, cherries, canola, melons, sun flowers, clover etc. are of benefit to a bee keeper who is willing to travel with his hives throughout the season.

Honeydew source

Honeydew source

This is a list of honeydew sources. Honeydew is a sugary excretion from plant sap sucking insects such as aphids or scales. There are many trees that are hosts to aphids and scale insects that produce honeydew-Honeydew sources:-References:...

s are not included in this listing.

Trees and shrubs

Plant type	Common name	Latin name	Begin Bloom Month	End Bloom Month	Monofloral honey	Availability	Source for honey bees / pounds of honey per acre
T	Maple Maple Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...	Acer	2	4	no	feral	major but temperature usually too cold
T	Red Maple Red Maple Acer rubrum , is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern North America. It ranges from the Lake of the Woods on the border between Ontario and Minnesota, east to Newfoundland, south to near Miami, Florida, and southwest to east Texas...	Acer rubrum	2	4	no	feral	major but temperature usually too cold for bees to fly
T	Ohio Buckeye Aesculus The genus Aesculus comprises 13-19 species of woody trees and shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere, with 6 species native to North America and 7-13 species native to Eurasia; there are also several hybrids. Species are deciduous or evergreen...	Aesculus glabra	4	5	no	feral	minor
S	Shadbush Serviceberry Amelanchier , also known as shadbush, shadwood or shadblow, serviceberry or sarvisberry, wild pear, juneberry, saskatoon, sugarplum or wild-plum, and chuckley pear is a genus of about 20 species of deciduous-leaved shrubs and small trees in the Rose family .Amelanchier is native to temperate regions...	Amelanchier arborea	4	5	no	feral	minor
	Devils-walkingstick Aralia Aralia , or Spikenard, is a genus of the plant family Araliaceae, consisting of 68 accepted species of deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and rhizomatous herbaceous perennials. The genus is native to Asia and the Americas, with most species occurring in mountain woodlands...	Aralia spinosa	7	8	no	feral	minor
S	Red Chokeberry	Aronia arbutifolia, Photinia pyrifolia	5	6	no	feral	minor
S	Black Chokeberry	Aronia melanocarpa	5	6	no	feral	minor
T	Catalpa Catalpa Catalpa, commonly called catalpa or catawba, is a genus of flowering plants in the trumpet vine family, Bignoniaceae, native to warm temperate regions of North America, the Caribbean, and East Asia.... , Indian Bean	Catalpa speciosa	6	7	no	feral, ornamental	minor
S	Common Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis	4	5	no	feral	minor
S	Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis Cephalanthus occidentalis Cephalanthus occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, that is native to eastern and southern North America. Common names include Buttonbush, Common Buttonbush, Button-willow and Honey-bells....	7	8	Honey is light in color and mild in flavor.	feral
S	Hawthorn Crataegus Crataegus , commonly called hawthorn or thornapple, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia and North America. The name hawthorn was originally applied to the species native to northern Europe,...	Crataegus	4	5	no	feral	minor - 50 - 100 pounds/acre
S	Honeysuckle Honeysuckle Honeysuckles are arching shrubs or twining vines in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere. There are about 180 species of honeysuckle, 100 of which occur in China; Europe, India and North America have only about 20 native species each...	Diervilla lonicera	6	8		minor
T	Honey Locust Honey locust The Honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos, is a deciduous tree native to central North America. It is mostly found in the moist soil of river valleys ranging from southeastern South Dakota to New Orleans and central Texas, and as far east as eastern Massachusetts.-Description:Honey locusts, Gleditsia...	Gleditsia triancanthos	5	6	no	feral	minor
S	American Holly Holly Ilex) is a genus of 400 to 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones world wide....	Ilex opaca	4	6	no	feral	minor, important in southeastern US
T	Tulip-tree Liriodendron Liriodendron is a genus of two species of characteristically large deciduous trees in the magnolia family .These trees are widely known by the common name tulip tree or tuliptree for their large flowers superficially resembling tulips, but are closely related to magnolias rather than lilies, the...	Liriodendron tulipifera	5	6	yes, see Monofloral honey Monofloral honey Monofloral honey is a type of honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species....	feral	major in southern Appalachians and Piedmont Piedmont (United States) The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
T	Apple Apple The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...	Malus domestica	4	5	No, the nectar is mostly used for spring brood raising and not stored for surplus. see Monofloral honey Monofloral honey Monofloral honey is a type of honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species....	cultivated	minor
T	Crab Apple Malus Malus , the apples, are a genus of about 30–35 species of small deciduous trees or shrubs in the family Rosaceae. Other studies go as far as 55 species including the domesticated Orchard Apple, or Table apple as it was formerly called...	Malus sylvestris; Malus coronaria	3	6	no	ornamental	minor
T	Cherry Cherry The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....	Prunus cerasus	4	5	no	feral, cultivated	minor
T	Pear Pear The pear is any of several tree species of genus Pyrus and also the name of the pomaceous fruit of these trees. Several species of pear are valued by humans for their edible fruit, but the fruit of other species is small, hard, and astringent....	Pyrus communis	4	5	no	cultivated	minor
T	Black Cherry Cherry The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....	Prunus serotina	4	5	no	feral, cultivated	minor
T	Plum Plum A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...	Prunus	4	5	no	feral, cultivated	minor
S	Common Buckthorn Buckthorn The Buckthorns are a genus of about 100 species of shrubs or small trees from 1-10 m tall , in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae...	Rhamnus cathartica	5	6	no	feral	minor
T	Sumac Sumac Sumac is any one of approximately 250 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera, in the family Anacardiaceae. Sumacs grow in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world, especially in Africa and North America....	Rhus glabra	6	7	mixed with other honeys	feral	major
T	Black Locust Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia, commonly known as the Black Locust, is a tree in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States, but has been widely planted and naturalized elsewhere in temperate North America, Europe, Southern Africa and Asia and is...	Robinia pseudoacacia	5	6	yes, see Monofloral honey Monofloral honey Monofloral honey is a type of honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species....	feral	major - 800 - 1200 pounds/; short bloom period of about 10 days
S	Raspberry Raspberry The raspberry or hindberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeobatus; the name also applies to these plants themselves...	Rubus	5	6	yes, see Monofloral honey Monofloral honey Monofloral honey is a type of honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species....	feral, cultivated	major in some areas
S	Blackberry Blackberry The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...	Rubus spp.	5	6	yes, see Monofloral honey Monofloral honey Monofloral honey is a type of honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species....	feral, cultivated	major in some areas
T	Willow Willow Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...	Salix	2	4	no	feral, ornamental	major but outside temperatures are usually too cold for bees to fly. 100 - 150 pounds honey per acre; 1,500 pounds pollen
T	Pussy Willow Salix discolor Salix discolor is a species of willow native to North America, one of two species commonly called Pussy Willow.It is native to the northern forests and wetlands of Canada and the northeastern contiguous United States .It is a weak-wooded deciduous shrub or...	Salix discolor	3	4	no	feral, ornamental	major but temperature usually too cold for bees to fly
T	Bee bee tree	Tetradium Tetradium Tetradium is a genus of nine species of trees in the family Rutaceae, occurring in temperate to tropical east Asia. In older books, the genus was often included in the related genus Euodia , but that genus is now restricted to tropical species...	7	9		ornamental	major
T	Basswood	Tilia americana, Tilia cordata	6	7	yes, short flow up to 14 days; Honey white; aromatic see Monofloral honey Monofloral honey Monofloral honey is a type of honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species....	feral, ornamental Produces a high volume of honey on a cycle of every five to eight years, with lower volume of nectar other years.	major 800 - 1,100 pounds honey
T	American Elm Elm Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...	Ulmus americana	2	4	no	feral	minor
S	Blueberry Blueberry Blueberries are flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium with dark-blue berries and are perennial...	Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium pennsylvanicum	5	6	no. Honey amber and of good flavor.	cultivated	minor in most areas. Strong colonies may store 50-90 pounds of surplus from it.
S	Black haw	Viburnum prunifolium Viburnum prunifolium Viburnum prunifolium , is a species of Viburnum native to southeastern North America, from Connecticut west to eastern Kansas, and south to Alabama and Texas.-Growth:It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 2–9 m tall with a short crooked trunk and stout...	5	6

Flowers, crops, herbs and grasses

Plant type	Common name	Latin name	Begin Bloom Month	End Bloom Month	Monofloral honey Monofloral honey Monofloral honey is a type of honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species....	Availability	Source for honey bees
F	Blue bugle, Bugleherb, Bugleweed, Carpetweed, Common bugle	Ajuga reptans Ajuga reptans Ajuga reptans, commonly known as Blue bugle, Bugleherb, Bugleweed, Carpetweed, Carpet Bungleweed, Common bugle, or Burgundy lace, is an herbaceous flowering plant native to Europe. This plant is often used as an ornamental plant. It is invasive in parts of North America.-Description:The bugle has...	5	5
F	Chives Chives Chives are the smallest species of the edible onions. A perennial plant, they are native to Europe, Asia and North America.. Allium schoenoprasum is the only species of Allium native to both the New and the Old World....	Allium schoenoprasum	5	9	no	cultivated	minor
C	Asparagus Asparagus Asparagus officinalis is a spring vegetable, a flowering perennialplant species in the genus Asparagus. It was once classified in the lily family, like its Allium cousins, onions and garlic, but the Liliaceae have been split and the onion-like plants are now in the family Amaryllidaceae and...	Asparagus officinalis	5	6	no	cultivated	minor
F	Milk Vetch	Astragalus spp.	5	6	no	feral	minor
C, F	Mustard Mustard plant Mustards are several plant species in the genera Brassica and Sinapis whose small mustard seeds are used as a spice and, by grinding and mixing them with water, vinegar or other liquids, are turned into the condiment known as mustard or prepared mustard...	Brassica arvenisi (L.); Brassica campestris	4	5	no?	cultivated	minor?
C	Oilseed Rape Canola Canola refers to a cultivar of either Rapeseed or Field Mustard . Its seeds are used to produce edible oil suitable for consumption by humans and livestock. The oil is also suitable for use as biodiesel.Originally, Canola was bred naturally from rapeseed in Canada by Keith Downey and Baldur R... (Canola)	Brassica napus L., Brassica rapa	5	6	yes, see Monofloral honey Monofloral honey Monofloral honey is a type of honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species....	cultivated	major
F	Mountain Bluet	Centaurea Montana (Knapweed)	5	5	no??	feral	major
F	Leopardsbane	Doronicum Doronicum Doronicum is a genus of the botanical family Asteraceae.-Selected species:Doronicum altaicumDoronicum atlanticum* Doronicum austriacum Jacq.Doronicum briquetii Doronicum cacaliifolium Boiss. & Heldr.... cordatum	4	5	no	feral	minor
F	Candytuft	Iberis sempervirens	5	5
F	Henbit Deadnettle	Lamium Lamium Lamium is a genus of about 40-50 species of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae, of which family it is the type genus... sp	3	5	no	feral	minor but valuable due to earliness/frost hardiness
C, F	White Sweet Clover	Melilotus alba	5	8	yes	feral, cultivated	major up to 200 pounds per hive
C, F	Yellow Sweet Clover	Melilotus officinalis	5	8	yes	feral, cultivated	major up to 200 pounds per hive
C, F	Phacelia Phacelia Phacelia is a genus of about 200 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants, native to North and South America.... , Tansy	Phacelia tanacetifolia				Western US - One of the best spring forage sources for honeybees. Blooms 45–60 days and continuously produces nectar throughout the day. Can be seeded several times per year. Prefers three feet of topsoil.	180 - 1,500 pounds honey per acre, depending on soil quality and depth; 300-1000 pounds of pollen.
F	Lungwort Lungwort The lungworts are the genus Pulmonaria of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae, native to Europe and western Asia, with one species east to central Asia...	Pulmonaria spp.	5	5	no	feral	minor
F	Woundwort	Stachys byzantina	5	5	no	feral	minor
F	Chickweed Chickweed Chickweed, a common name, can refer to:* Cerastium - Mouse-ear Chickweed* Holosteum - Jagged Chickweed* Moenchia - Upright Chickweed* Paronychia - Chickweed* Stellaria pro parte - Chickweed...	Stellaria Media	4	7	no	feral	minor
F	Dandelion	Taraxicum officinale	4	5	no Honey deep yellow will granulate quickly; mostly consumed by bees doing brood rearing	feral	major
F	Speedwell	Veronica spicata	6	6	no	feral	minor
F	Blackhaw Viburnum Viburnum is a genus of about 150–175 species of shrubs or small trees in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae. Its current classification is based on molecular phylogeny...	Viburnum prunifolium	5	6	no	feral	minor
F	Anise hyssop Hyssop Hyssop is a genus of about 10-12 species of herbaceous or semi-woody plants in the family Lamiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to central Asia. They are aromatic, with erect branched stems up to 60 cm long covered with fine hairs at the tips. The leaves are narrow oblong, 2–5 cm...	Agstache foeniculum	7	10	no	feral	minor
C, F	Garlic chives Garlic chives Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, is a vegetable related to onion. The plant has a distinctive growth habit with strap-shaped leaves unlike either onion or garlic, and straight thin white-flowering stalks that are much taller than the leaves. The flavor is more like garlic than chives. It grows in...	Allium tuberosa	8	9	no	cultivated	minor
	Leadwort Plumbaginaceae Plumbaginaceae is a family of flowering plants, with a cosmopolitan distribution. The family is sometimes referred to as the leadwort family or the plumbago family....	Amorpha fruticosa	6	7	no	feral	minor
	Milkweed	Asclepias spp. 55 species	7	8		feral All species are great for honeybees. Nectar is so abundant that it is possible to shake the blossom and actually see the nectar fall.	major 120 - 250 pounds honey, depending on soil and if good fertilization Asclepias syriaca has the highest honey yield.
	Butterfly Weed Butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa is a species of milkweed native to eastern North America. It is a perennial plant growing to tall, with clustered orange or yellow flowers from early summer to early fall. The leaves are spirally arranged, lanceolate, 5–12 cm long and 2–3 cm broad.This plant favors...	Asclepias tuberosa	7	8	no	feral	minor
	Aster Asteraceae The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...	Asteraceae spp.	8	9	no	feral, ornamental	can be major
	Borage Borage Borage, , also known as a starflower, is an annual herb originating in Syria, but naturalized throughout the Mediterranean region, as well as Asia Minor, Europe, North Africa, and South America. It grows to a height of , and is bristly or hairy all over the stems and leaves; the leaves are...	Borago officinalis	6	10	no	feral, ornamental	minor, but can be major on cultivated area 200 pounds honey per acre; 60-160 pounds pollen
	Marigold Calendula Calendula , pot marigold, is a genus of about 12–20 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to the area from Macaronesia east through the Mediterranean region to Iran...	Calendula officinalis	6	9	no	ornamental	minor
	Canada thistle	Carduus arvensis			light honey of good quality
	Thistle Thistle Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the...	Centaurea spp.	7	9	no	feral	minor
	Creeping thistle	Cirsium arvense	7	9		feral (invasive in North America)
	Clethra Summersweet Clethra Clethra is a genus of between 30-70 species of flowering shrubs or small trees. It is one of two genera in the family Clethraceae...	Clethra alnifolia	7	8	no	feral	minor
	Cucumber Cucumber The cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same genus as the muskmelon. The plant is a creeping vine which bears cylindrical edible fruit when ripe. There are three main varieties of cucumber: "slicing", "pickling", and...	Cucumis spp.	6	9	no; Honey is pale yellow or amber with strong flavor.	cultivated	minor
	Melon Melon thumb\|200px\|Various types of melonsThis list of melons includes members of the plant family Cucurbitaceae with edible, fleshy fruit e.g. gourds or cucurbits. The word "melon" can refer to either the plant or specifically to the fruit...	Cucumis melo	6	10	no	cultivated	minor
	Pumpkin Pumpkin A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae . It commonly refers to cultivars of any one of the species Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata, and is native to North America...	Cucurbita pepo	6	10	no	cultivated	minor
	Wild Carrot Carrot The carrot is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour, though purple, red, white, and yellow varieties exist. It has a crisp texture when fresh...	Daucus carota	8	9	no	feral	minor
	Blue thistle, Viper's bugloss Blue weed	Echium vulgare Echium vulgare is most widely known, though there are about 60 additional species.	6	8	no	feral In California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... , spring blooming plant with repeat bloom. Fall bloom provides nectar for bees for overwintering. The most unusual feature of Echium vulgare is the protection of the nectar inside the flower from vaporization (when it’s hot) or flushing away (when it rains). It is why almost for 2 months this plant is a stable source of nectar for bees. Additionally this plant produces nectar throughout the day unlike most plants which produce nectar for a short period of time. If the bees have a good access to Echium they can collect between 12-20 lbs of nectar a day. The concentration of sugars in the nectar vary 22.6-48.3% depending on the quality of the soil, and not on the amount of rain. The honey is light amber in color and ver y fragrant with a pleasant taste, and does not crystallize for 9–15 months.	major 300 - 1,000 pounds honey/acre Acre The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related... depending on soil. 500-2000 lbs of dark blue pollen.
	Globe Thistle Thistle Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the...	Echinops ritro	8	8		feral	major
	Fireweed Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium, commonly known as Fireweed , Great Willow-herb , or Rosebay Willowherb , is a perennial herbaceous plant in the willowherb family Onagraceae...	Epilobium angustifolium	6	9	yes	feral	major
	Joe-Pye weed Joe-Pye weed Eutrochium fistulosum , also called Joe-Pye weed, Trumpetweed, or Purple thoroughwort, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to eastern North America, in southeast Canada and throughout the eastern and central United States.It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 1.5-3 m ... , Boneset, White Snakeroot	Eutrochium Eutrochium Eutrochium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in Asteraceae. They are commonly referred to as Joe-Pye weeds. They are native to Eastern North America and have non-dissected foliage and pigmented flowers. It includes all the purple flowering North American species of the genus Eupatorium as... spp. "Eupatorium Eupatorium Eupatorium is a genus of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae, containing from 36 to 60 species depending on the classification system. Most are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 0.5–3 m tall. A few are shrubs. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.... spp. Eupatorium purpureum Eupatorium purpureum Eutrochium purpureum , Kidney-root, Sweetscented Joe-Pie weed, Sweet Joe-Pye weed, or Trumpet weed is a herbaceous perennial plant native to eastern and central North America.... ; Eupatorium perfoliatum Eupatorium perfoliatum Eupatorium perfoliatum or Boneset is a common perennial plant native to the Eastern United States and Canada, with a range from Nova Scotia to Florida, as well as from Louisiana and Texas through North Dakota. It is also called "agueweed", "feverwort" or "sweating-plant"... ; Eupatorium ageratoides	8	9	no	feral	minor
	Buckwheat Buckwheat Buckwheat refers to a variety of plants in the dicot family Polygonaceae: the Eurasian genus Fagopyrum, the North American genus Eriogonum, and the Northern Hemisphere genus Fallopia. Either of the latter two may be referred to as "wild buckwheat"...	Fagopyrum esculentum	7	8	can be; dark honey with distinct flavor; granulates quickly	rarely cultivated now	minor
	Blue vine	Gonolobus laevis			no. Honey is clear, heavy bodied of excellent flavor.	feral	minor; Strong hives can collect up to 100 pounds.
	Soybean Soybean The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses...	Glycine soja	7	10		cultivated	major
	Sunflower Sunflower Sunflower is an annual plant native to the Americas. It possesses a large inflorescence . The sunflower got its name from its huge, fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used to depict the sun. The sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads...	Helianthus annuus	6	9	can be	feral, cultivated	minor 30 - 100 pounds/acre
	Basil Basil Basil, or Sweet Basil, is a common name for the culinary herb Ocimum basilicum , of the family Lamiaceae , sometimes known as Saint Joseph's Wort in some English-speaking countries....	Koellia			cultivated	no	minor
	Lavender Lavender The lavenders are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An Old World genus, distributed from Macaronesia across Africa, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East India...	Lavandula angustifolia Lavandula angustifolia Lavandula angustifolia Lavandula angustifolia Lavandula angustifolia (also Lavandula spica or Lavandula vera; common lavender, true lavender, narrow-leaved lavender or English lavender (though not native to England); formerly L...	6	9	can be, see Monofloral honey Monofloral honey Monofloral honey is a type of honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species....	cultivated	minor
	Birdsfoot trefoil	Lotus corniculatus	6	8	no	feral	minor
	Alfalfa Alfalfa Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...	Medicago sativa	7	8	as clover honey. Alfalfa honey granulates readily.	feral, cultivated	major
	Clover Clover Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...	Melilotus spp. and Trifolium spp.	5	8	as clover honey	feral, cultivated	major - up to 500 pounds per acre in a good year
F	Melissa Melissa Melissa is a given name for a female child. The name comes from the Greek word μέλισσα , "honey bee" and from μέλι , "honey". Compare Hittite melit, "honey".... , Lemon Balm	Melissa officinalis				Western USA - Prolonged bloom of 45 – 50 days generally in summer, but with repeat blooming in California. Delicate honey with very light, pinkish color.	150 - 250 pounds honey per acre; 50-120 pounds pollen
C, F	Peppermint Peppermint Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between the watermint and spearmint . The plant, indigenous to Europe, is now widespread in cultivation throughout all regions of the world...	Mentha piperita			no	feral
F	Catnip, Cat mint	Nepeta mussinii; Nepeta grandiflora; Nepeta cataria	6	9	no	feral, ornamental	minor
F	Oregano Oregano Oregano – scientifically named Origanum vulgare by Carolus Linnaeus – is a common species of Origanum, a genus of the mint family . It is native to warm-temperate western and southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region.Oregano is a perennial herb, growing from 20–80 cm tall,...	Origanum vulgare	6	9	no	cultivated?	minor
C, F	Poppy	Papaver somniferum					minor - 20 - 30 pounds /acre
F	Russian Sage Perovskia Perovskia is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Members of the genus are native to southwestern and central Asia. It comprises seven species, including the garden plant Russian Sage ....	Perovskia atriplicifolia	7	9	can be	ornamental	minor
F	Smartweed	Polygonum spp.	8	9		feral	major
F	Selfheal	Prunella vulgaris	7	8	no	feral	minor
F	Azalea Azalea Azaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera and Tsutsuji . Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks...	Rhododendron spp.	6	8	no	ornamental	minor
F	Scrophularia Scrophularia The genus Scrophularia of the family Scrophulariaceae comprises about 200 species of herbaceous flowering plants commonly known as figworts. Species of Scrophularia all share square stems, opposite leaves and open two-lipped flowers forming clusters at the end of their stems...	Scrophularia spp.	7	7	no	feral	minor
F	Germander, Thyme	Teucrium canadense	7	8	no	feral	minor
F	Thyme Thyme Thyme is a culinary and medicinal herb of the genus Thymus.-History:Ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage...	Thymus pulegioides; Thymus serpyllum	6	7	no	feral, cultivated	minor - 50 - 150 pounds honey/acre
F	Red-Flowering Thyme Thyme Thyme is a culinary and medicinal herb of the genus Thymus.-History:Ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage...	Thymus praecox	6	7		feral?	major
C, F	Alsike Clover Clover Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...	Trifolium hybridum			as clover honey. Alsike clover honey is one of the very best honey plants in America.	feral, cultivated	major, up to 500 pounds/acre
C, F	Crimson clover Clover Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...	Trifolium incarnatum			as clover honey	feral, cultivated	major
C, F	Red Clover Clover Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...	Trifolium pratense	6	7	as clover honey	feral, cultivated	major
C, F	White Clover White clover Trifolium repens, the white clover , is a species of clover native to Europe, North Africa, and West Asia...	Trifolium repens	6	7	as clover honey; The honey is white or nearly white; very mild flavored and does not granulate readily. see Monofloral honey Monofloral honey Monofloral honey is a type of honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species....	feral, cultivated	major
F	Blue Vervain	Verbena hastata L.	7	8	no	ornamental?	minor
	Tall Ironweed Vernonia Vernonia is a genus of about 1000 species of forbs and shrubs in the family Asteraceae. Some species are known as Ironweed. Some species are edible and of economic value. They are known for having intense purple flowers. The genus is named for English botanist William Vernon. There are numerous...	Vernonia altissima	8	9	no	feral	minor
	Tufted Vetch Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca , is a species of vetch native to Europe and Asia. It occurs on other continents as an introduced species, including North America, where it is a common weed... , Common Vetch	Vicia cracca	7	8	no	feral	minor
	Common Vetch Common Vetch Vicia sativa, known as the Common Vetch, Tare or simply "the vetch", is a nitrogen fixing leguminous plant. Although considered a weed when found growing in a cultivated grainfield, this hardy plant is often grown as green manure or livestock fodder...	Vicia sativa	7	8	no	feral	minor
	Aster Asteraceae The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...	Aster spp.	9	10	usually mixed with goldenrod	feral, ornamental	major
	Sweet Autumn Clematis	Clematis terniflora Clematis terniflora Clematis terniflora is a plant in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. It is native to Asia, but is cultivated in gardens and has naturalized in parts of North America. It is considered an invasive plant in some locations....	9	9		ornamental	minor
	Heather Erica Erica ,the heaths or heathers, is a genus of approximately 860 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. The English common names "heath" and "heather" are shared by some closely related genera of similar appearance....	Erica vulgaris, though many varieties			see Monofloral honey Monofloral honey Monofloral honey is a type of honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species....		100 - 200 pounds honey
	Appalachian Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum Pycnanthemum is a genus of plants in the mint family . They are commonly known as mountain mints , though "the Mountain Mint" may also be any locally common species in particular. Some are known as koellias, after an obsolete genus name.All of the approximately 20 species in this genus are native...	Pycnanthemum flexuosum	8	10			minor
	Sedum Sedum Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. It contains around 400 species of leaf succulents that are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, varying from annual and creeping herbs to shrubs. The plants have... , Autumn Joy	Sedum spectabile
	Goldenrod Goldenrod Solidago, commonly called goldenrods, is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Most are herbaceous perennial species found in the meadows and pastures, along roads, ditches and waste areas in North America. There are also a few species native to Mexico, South...	Solidago spp.	9	10	can be; Honey golden color of deep amber; marked flavor; granulates quickly	feral	major

Trees and shrubs

Flowers, crops, herbs and grasses

See also