Cherry laurel

[mintmoth]

There is a huge cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) in the copse near my hives and it's in full flower now. It's such a big tree that the flowers are way too high for me to see if the bees work them. Does anyone know if bees gather nectar or pollen from these flowers?

I know the fruit and leaves are poisonous and contain a form of cyanide, but no idea about the flowers.

 

[Swarm]

Bees do work Laurel.

 

[Plenty of honey]

There is a huge cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) in the copse near my hives and it's in full flower now. It's such a big tree that the flowers are way too high for me to see if the bees work them. Does anyone know if bees gather nectar or pollen from these flowers?

I know the fruit and leaves are poisonous and contain a form of cyanide, but no idea about the flowers.

Yes they definitely do, I have a few gardens near my bees that have a few as hedging. they dont flowers much in hedging but the other thats are priced a little are filled with flowers.
i find these often in flower when theres not much around. for us here we have a pause in Nectar at the end of the spring flow (just as the Hawthorn finishes) then not much else around in quantity until the start of the Bramble and Chestnut. a good gap filler. Lovely long fronds of flowers, that seem to last a while.

 

[Erichalfbee]

And it has extrafloral nectaries which you can see the bees on when there are no flowers

 

[Goran]

Yes they definitely do, I have a few gardens near my bees that have a few as hedging. they dont flowers much in hedging but the other thats are priced a little are filled with flowers.
i find these often in flower when theres not much around. for us here we have a pause in Nectar at the end of the spring flow (just as the Hawthorn finishes) then not much else around in quantity until the start of the Bramble and Chestnut. a good gap filler. Lovely long fronds of flowers, that seem to last a while.

Instead of cherry laurel could plant tree of heaven or staghorn sumac. These flower here when is such gap in second part of May. Also mentioned honey locust but for this I hope to really see this year ( we planted some of mentioned and wait to get in blooming).
I avoid the cherry laurel as mentioned extremelly poisonous berries and I don't want to think some kid could taste it.
I don't know that trees I mentioned are considered as invasive species at your place but that is another story.

 

[Plenty of honey]

Instead of cherry laurel could plant tree of heaven or staghorn sumac. These flower here when is such gap in second part of May. Also mentioned honey locust but for this I hope to really see this year ( we planted some of mentioned and wait to get in blooming).
I avoid the cherry laurel as mentioned extremelly poisonous berries and I don't want to think some kid could taste it.
I don't know that trees I mentioned are considered as invasive species at your place but that is another story.

Goran thats interesting, Ive seen Sumac in North America and its prolific there. Its just dosent seem to do well around here. It lives but dosent seem to self seed. I reckon its down to seed "stratification". In North America they get like really cold winters. Asters and such like do well and us here and the uk, seem to not have Asters like the US!
Whereas you are, you often get really cold periods of weather. Sumac might do better where you are than some southern parts of the uk.

I would plant tons of the stuff if i knew it would do well! It would be a good gap filler for sure! Golden rod thats been introduced isn't prolific here also. I am sure these plants rely on deep frost for seed viability.
For me there is a couple of species of ground cover Cottoneaster that always seem to flower at the end of May.

 

[mintmoth]

Thanks for all the replies.
it makes me happy to know the bees have nectar and pollen so close at this time of year while the weather is so changeable.

 

[Rich0909]

Is it definitely cherry laurel - they don't normally flower anywhere near this early in the year?

 

[Plenty of honey]

Is it definitely cherry laurel - they don't normally flower anywhere near this early in the year?

Your right, glad you read the original post properly lol. It cant be any of that family, as we discussed, they generally come between may and June. i can only think of mimosa? bright yellow flowers? apart from Crocus, Early goat willow, hellebores and may be the start of Camelias and Magnolias,theres not much else in flower as a rule.
I cant think what it could be? could you take some pictures please Mint moth?

 

[enrico]

Not much in flower.... !!!???? We have mahonia, winter honeysuckle, damson, daphne, grape hyasynth, primroses, forsythia, mistletoe, anemone, just to mention a few more. Our garden is a riot of colour
E

 

[masterBK]

My guess is that it may be an evergreen Viburnum