Rhododendron bushes

[tobbias88]

Just read that Rhododendron flowers are highly toxic.

Mine are covered with happy? bumble bees at the moment but no honey bees.
What do people think. Someone suggested that the toxins degrade with age & honey will be safe later in the year when bees will consume it.
Lots of Rhododendron bushes here in Ireland as you can imagine. Never heard of a problem with them but similar warnings have been issued about lime trees & their flowers. Any thoughts on this.

 

[pargyle]

We get this question most years:

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28443

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17053

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=10481

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11641

 

[MuswellMetro]

Just read that Rhododendron flowers are highly toxic.

Mine are covered with happy? bumble bees at the moment but no honey bees.
What do people think. Someone suggested that the toxins degrade with age & honey will be safe later in the year when bees will consume it.
Lots of Rhododendron bushes here in Ireland as you can imagine. Never heard of a problem with them but similar warnings have been issued about lime trees & their flowers. Any thoughts on this.

i thought it was only one sub species Rhododendron thonsonii that casued the problem

lime tree again is limited to variuos american sub species but bumbles seem more affected

 

[sean-a]

Just read that Rhododendron flowers are highly toxic.

There is a film about Rhododendron honey which is interesting to see if you have a spare half hour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_b2i_FvYPw