buttercups

[Cuckmere couple]

our set aside field surrounding our garden is a carpet of buttercups

any good for bees? pollen/nectar?

 

[masterBK]

No

 

[Cuckmere couple]

thought as much

 

[enrico]

Ummmm! My pollen analysis showed loads of buttercup pollen so ...... Not useless.
I too have a field full of buttercups and I do see bees on it. Wether that is just for pollen I know not.
E

 

[Erichalfbee]

Pollen is toxic so bees should largely avoid it.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ummmm! My pollen analysis showed loads of buttercup pollen so ...... Not useless.
E

Bees pick up pollen from lots of sources that they don’t actually forage.
Another thing I found out after I had my honey tested is that some sources leave more or less pollen in the honey depending on the size of the pollen grains.
My pollen analysis had lots of bramble and a little rosebay but taking into account the pollen coefficient ( or R values) of both pollens it was clear that the honey was largely rosebay derived.