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Entomology & Plant Pathology
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762-9775

TEL: (662) 325-2085
FAX: (662) 325-8837

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Beekeeping Tips

  1. Important Nectar & Pollen Producing Plants in Mississippi

    The following list of plants produce nectar and/or pollen which honey bees gather. The dates shown are for blooming dates in the southern part of Mississippi. Dates of bloom for the same plants in northern Mississippi would be 2-4 weeks different depending on how far north they occur. Also on any given year the plant(s) may not bloom for the duration of the dates shown. Weather patterns may cause bloom times to vary as much as two weeks. The succession of blooming plants listed below should be correct in most cases. Some of the less important plants have been omitted. Those plants blooming in January, February and March are significant because they supply early nectar/pollen which is used for brood production and spring build-up; not necessarily for surplus honey.


    * Indicates that a surplus of honey may be produced if environmental conditions are right.

    Author:  Harry Fulton, MS Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
    Common Name Genus and/or Species North Mississippi Approximate Bloom Date South Mississippi Approximate Bloom Date N=Nectar
    P=Pollen
    Hazel Alder
    –
    Tag Alder    		 Alnus Late Jan. – Feb. Jan. 5 – Feb. 15 P
    Maple Acer Rubrum Feb. 1 – Mar. 10 Jan. 25 – Feb. 15 N/P
    Henbit Lamium Feb. 1 – Mar. 15 Jan. 20 – Mar. 1 N/P
    Wild Mustard Brassica kaber Mar. 10 – Mar. 30 Mar. 1 – Mar. 20 N/P
    Redbud Cercis Mar. 10 – Mar. 31 Feb. 15 – Mar. 15 N/P
    Elm Several Feb. 15 – Mar. 1 Jan. 15 – Feb. 5 P
    Spring Titi*
    –
    Black Titi    		 Cliftonia
    –
    Monophylla    		 Not Present Feb. 15 – Apr. 10 N/P
    Fruit Bloom Apple, Pear, etc. Mar. 1 – Mar. 30 Feb. 15 – Mar. 15 N/P
    Willow Several Mar. 25 – Apr. 10 Mar. 10 – Mar. 30 N/P
    Hawthorne Crataegus Very Little Mar. 15 – Mar. 30 N/P
    Spring Beauty Claytonia Mar. 10 – Mar. 25 Mar. 1 – Mar. 20 N/P
    White Clover* Trifolium repens Mar. 10 – Jun. 30 Mar. 1 – Jun. 30 N/P
    Crimson Clover Trifolium incarnatum Mar. 15- Mar. 30 Mar. 1 – Mar. 15 N/P
    Blackberry* Rubus Mar. 15 – Apr. 30 Mar. 5 – Apr. 20 N/P
    Hairy Vetch* Vicia Mar. 25 – Apr. 30 Mar. 15 – Apr. 15 N/P
    Wild Plum Prunus Mar. 25 – Apr. 10 Mar. 15 – Mar. 30 N/P
    Huckleberry Gayussacia Early April Mar. 20 – Apr. 25 N/P
    Wild Cherry Prunus Apr. 1 – Apr. 15 Mar. 20 – Apr. 10 N/P
    Sweet Gum Liquidambar Apr. 10 – Apr. 25 Mar. 25 – Apr. 10 P
    Black Locust* Robinia Apr. 10 – Apr. 20 Apr. 5 – Apr. 15 N/P
    Tupelo Gum
    –
    Water Tupelo
    –
    Swamp Tupelo    		 Nyssa
    –
    Several Species    		 Mar. 20 – Apr. 15 Mar. 10 – Apr. 30 N/P
    Black Gum
    –
    Black Tupelo    		 Nyssa sylvatica Apr. 20 – May 5 Apr. 10 – May 1 N/P
    Tulip Poplar*
    –
    Yellow Poplar    		 Liriodendron Apr. 20 – May 10 Apr. 5 – Apr. 25 N/P
    Highbush
    –
    Gallberry*    		 Ilex Coriacae Not Present Apr. 5 – Apr. 25 N/P
    American Holly Ilex Apr. 20 – May 10 Apr. 5 – Apr. 15 N/P
    Yaupon Holly* Ilex vomitoria Apr. 25 – May 15 Apr. 5 – Apr. 15. N/P
    Persimmon Diospyros Apr. 25 – May 10 May 1 – May 10 N/P
    Privet* Ilex May 1 – May 15 Apr. 10 – Apr. 25 N/P
    Palmetto Sebal May 1 – Jun. 1 Apr. 15 – May 15 N/P
    Rattan Vine*
    –
    Crossvine    		 Berchemia May 1 – May 20 Apr. 10 – Apr. 25 N/P
    Low Bush
    –
    Gallberry*    		 Ilex glabra Not Present May 5 – May 20 N/P
    Milkweed Asclepias syriaca May 10 – May 21   N/P
    Pioson Ivy/Oak Rhus May 15 – May 30 Apr. 25 – May 10 N/P
    Sumac* Several Jun. 1 – Jul. 10 Jun. 20 – Aug. 30 N/P
    Summer Titi *
    –
    Ironwood    		 Cyrilla Not Present Jun. 1 – Jun. 30 N/P
    Sourwood* Oxydendrum Jun. 1 – Jul. 15 Little Present N/P
    Chinese Tallow
    –
    Popcorn Tree*    		 Sapium Jun. 1 – Jun. 20 Jun. 10 – Jun. 30 N
    Cotton* Gossypium Jun. – Aug. Jun. – Aug. N/P
    Pepper Vine* Ampelopsis Jun. 15 – Jul. 30 Jun. – Jul. 30 N/P
    Pepperbush Clethra Not Present Jun. 30 – Jul. 30 N/P
    Blue vervain* Verbena Jun. 15 – Aug. Jul. – Sep. N/P
    Heartease*
    –
    Smartweed    		 Polygonum Jul. – Sep. Not Known N/P
    Soybean* Soya Jul. 1 – Aug. 31 Doesn’t Produce N/P
    Redvine Brunnichia Jul. 15 – Aug. 15 Jul. 1 – Jul. 30 N
    Goldenrod* Solidage Aug. 25 – Sep. 30 Oct. 1 – Oct. 30 N/P
    White Boneset Eupatorium Aug. 25 – Sep. 15 Not Known N/P
    Spanish Needle
    –
    Beggar lice (ticks)    		 Bidens Sep. 1 – Sep. 30 Not Known N/P
    Asters* Aster Sep. 20 – Frost Oct. 5 – Frost N/P
    Eastern Smokebush
    –
    Baccharis*    		 Baccharis Sep. 20 – Oct. 10 Oct. 10 – Oct. 30 N