Lonicera Fragrantissima

[Dadnlad]

Winter honeysuckle (I looked it up )

Gardener friend asked if I "wanted some for the bees", it appears to be good for pollen and nectar
If it flowers midwinter will the bees find it if they're clustered ? Anyone seen bees on it ?

 

[B+.]

If it flowers midwinter will the bees find it if they're clustered

You don't see many bees flying in the middle of winter. I would have thought the nectary was too deep in the throat of honeysuckle to be of use to honeybees anyway. Perhaps others know better than I do though

 

[Zante]

As far as I know bumble bees bite the bottom of the flower to get at the nectar, and then honey bees have access to the flower once the bumble's had its fill, but not otherwise.

 

[Erichalfbee]

It blooms when few bees fly but I must admit my bees were on it this year

 

[alfazer]

I'd take it anyway from a visual point of view, regardless of its appeal to honeybees. Anything to brighten up the garden midwinter would be great.

 

[mintmoth]

The scent is just as powerful as summer honeysuckle, but the flowers are much smaller, so easier for honey bees to access. If there are bees about they will find it. Mine flowers from the middle of January well into March in mild years.

 

[Plenty of honey]

I have it, and it's easy to propagate. Take cuttings in summer on semi mature wood. Roots really easily. The ones I planted 3 years ago are already 1 meter 20, and I have planted it in rows between my hives and I find even though they say it flowers mid winter lots of flowers still come in March. It's a delightful shrub!! Bees go
Mad on it when they can. When the early pussey willow is in flower, so it's great as far as I am concerned. If you do get a warmer day I reckon it's a good one to have!!

 

[Dadnlad]

Cheers folks, with winters becoming virtually nonexistent here in the deep south I reckon it's more likely to be usefull than not - my bees hardly bothered clustering this winter anyway