List of honey plants

Honeybees usually collect nectar, pollen, or both from the following species of plants, which are called honey plants, for making honey.

See also:

Forage (honeybee)
Honeydew source
Nectar source
Northern Nectar Sources for Honey Bees
Pollen source

Acanthaceae (Acanthus family)[]

Avicennia nitida Jacq.

Aceraceae (Maple family)[]

Acer rubrum L. (Red maple)
Acer saccharum L. (Sugar maple)
Acer spicatum Lam. (Mountain maple)
Acer pseudoplatanus L. (Sycamore maple)

Agavaceae (Agave family)[]

Agave sisalana Perrine ex Engelm. (Sisal)

Alstroemeriaceae[]

Alstroemeria cunea Vell.

Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)[]

Alternanthera brasiliana Kuntze
Alternanthera dentata (Moench) Stuchlik ex R.E.Fries
Alternanthera polygonoides R.Br. ex Sweet
Froelichia humboldtiana Seub.
Froelichia lanata Moench
Gomphrena canescens R.Br.
Gomphrena demissa Mart.
Gomphrena gardneri Moq.

Anacardiaceae[]

Anacardium occidentale L.
Anacardium humile A.St.-Hil.
Astronium fraxinifolium Schott
Lithraea molleoides Engl.
Mangifera indica L.
Myracrodruon urundeuva M.Allemão
Schinus molle L.
Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi
Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl.
Spondias lutea L.
Spondias mombin L.
Spondias tuberosa Arruda
Tapirira guianensis Aubl.
Tapirira marchandii Engl.

Apiaceae (Parsley and carrot family)[]

Apium graveolens L.
Daucus carota L.
Pastinaca sativa L.
Petroselinum sativum Hoffm.

Apocynaceae (Dogbane family)[]

All the plants of this family are found in the tropics and subtropics.

Aspidosperma cylindrocarpon Müll.Arg.
Aspidosperma dasycarpon A.DC.
Aspidosperma macrocarpon Mart.
Aspidosperma parvifolium A.DC.
Aspidosperma polyneuron A.DC.
Aspidosperma populifolium A.DC.
Aspidosperma pruinosum Markgr.
Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart.
Hancornia speciosa Gomes
Peschiera affinis Miers
Rhodocalyx rotundifolia Müll.Arg.
Tabernaemontana fuchsiaefolia A.DC.

Aquifoliaceae (Holly family)[]

Ilex decidua Walter
Ilex glabra A.Gray
Ilex opaca Ait.
Ilex theezans Mart.
Ilex verticillata A.Gray

Araliaceae (Aralia and ivy family)[]

Didymopanax macrocarpum Seem.
Didymopanax vinosum Marchal

Asclepiadaceae[]

Asclepias tuberosa L.

Arecaceae (Palm family)[]

All the plants of this family are found in the tropics and subtropics.

Acrocomia aculeata Lodd. ex Mart.
Attalea speciosa Mart.
Roystonea elata (Bartr.) F.Harper
Sabal palmetto Lodd. ex Schult.f.
Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman (= Cocos romanzoffiana Cham., or Arecastrum romanzoffianum (Cham.) Becc.); This plants is usually an excellent choice for beekeeping.

Asteraceae (Aster, daisy, sunflower family)[]

Ambrosia polystachya DC.
Baccharis dracunculifolia DC.; This plants is usually an excellent choice for beekeeping.
Baccharis genistelloides Pers.
Baccharis gracilis DC.
Baccharis halimifolia L.
Baccharis ligustrina DC.
Baccharis platypoda DC.
Baccharis punctulata DC.
Baccharis serrula Sch.Bip.
Baccharis sessifolia L.
Baccharis tridentata Vahl
Bidens cernua L. (= Bidens glaucescens Greene)
Bidens pilosa L.
Cichorium intybus L.
Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (= Carduus arvense, or Cirsium incanum)
Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. (= Carduus vulgaris, Carduus lanceolatus, or Cirsium lanceolatum)
Centaurea biebersteinii (Jaub. et Spach) Walp.
Centratherum punctatum Cass.
Cosmos sulphureus Cav.
Echinops sphaerocephalus L.
Eremanthus sphaerocephalus Baker
Eupatorium itatiayense Hieron.
Eupatorium maculatum L.
Eupatorium maximiliani Schrad. ex DC.
Eupatorium purpureum L.
Eupatorium squalidum DC.
Helianthus annuus L. (Sunflower)
Helianthus tuberosus L. (Jerusalem artichoke)
Liatris spicata Willd.
Mikania cordifolia Willd.
Mikania hirsutissima DC.
Mikania microphylla Sch.Bip. ex Baker
Mikania speciosa DC.
Mikania sessilifolia DC.
Moquinia polymorpha DC.
Oligoneuron rigidum Small (= Solidago rigida L.)
Piptocarpha notata Baker
Piptocarpha rotundifolia Baker
Sonchus arvensis L.
Senecio brasiliensis Less.
Solidago chilensis Meyen
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (L.) G.L.Nesom
Taraxacum officinale Weber
Trichogonia salviaefolia Gardner
Trixis antimenorrhoea Mart. ex Baker
Verbesina alternifolia Britton ex Kearney
Vernonia apiculata Mart. ex DC.
Vernonia argyrophylla Less.
Vernonia diffusa Less.
Vernonia herbacea Rusby
Vernonia lacunosa Mart. ex DC.
Vernonia linearis D.Don ex Hook. et Arn.
Vernonia patens Kunth
Vernonia polyanthes Less.; This plants is usually an excellent choice for beekeeping.
Vernonia scorpioides Pers.
Vernonia virgata Gagnep.
Zinnia multiflora L.

Bignoniaceae (Trumpet creeper family)[]

All the plants of this family are found mostly in the tropics or subtropics.

Campsis radicans Seem. (= Bignonia radicans, or Tecoma radicans)
Catalpa bignonioides Walter
Catalpa speciosa Warder ex Engelm.
Cybistax antisyphilitica (Mart.) Mart.
Jacaranda brasiliana Pers.
Jacaranda caroba Hort. ex Lem.
Jacaranda decurrens Cham.
Jacaranda paucifoliolata Mart. ex DC.
Memora glaberrima K.Schum.
Memora nodosa Miers
Podranea ricasoliana (Tanfani) T. Sprague
Pyrostegia ignea Presl
Pyrostegia venusta Miers
Tabebuia alba (Cham.) Sandwith
Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz ex Griseb.
Tabebuia aurea (Silva Manso) Benth. et Hook.f. ex S.Moore (=Tabebuia cariba (Mart.) Bureau)
Tabebuia chrysotricha (Mart. ex DC.) Standl.
Tabebuia heptaphylla (Vell.) ToledoTemplate:Dn
Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.) Standl.
Tabebuia ochracea (Cham.) Standl.
Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC.
Tabebuia roseo-alba (Ridl.) Sandwith
Tabebuia serratifolia G.Nicholson
Tabebuia vellosoi ToledoTemplate:Dn
Zeyheria digitalis (Vell.) Hoehne et Kuhlm.

Bixaceae (Achiote family)[]

Bixa orellana L.

Bombacaceae (see also Malva family)[]

Bombax campestre K.Schum.
Bombax tomentosum A.Juss.
Chorisia speciosa A.St.-Hil.
Eriotheca gracilipes (K.Schum.) A.Robyns
Pseudobombax grandiflorum (Cav.) A.Robyns

Boraginaceae (Borage or Forget-me-not family)[]

Auxemma glazioviana Taub.
Auxemma oncocalyx Taub.
Cordia alliodora Cham.
Cordia campestris Warm.
Cordia corymbosa G.Don
Cordia hypoleuca DC.
Cordia insignis Cham.
Cordia leucocephala Moric.
Cordia nodosa Lam.
Cordia trichotoma (Vell.) Steud.
Cordia verbenacea DC.
Echium plantagineum L.
Echium simplex DC.
Echium virescens DC.
Echium wildpretii H.Pearson ex Hook.f.
Patagonula americana L.

Brassicaceae (Mustard family or cabbage family)[]

Brassica campestris L.
Brassica juncea Coss.
Brassica napus L.
Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L.
Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata
Brassica oleracea L. var. gemnifera
Brassica oleracea L. var. gongyloides
Eruca sativa Mill.
Sinapis alba L.

Caesalpinioideae[]

Apuleia molaris Spruce ex Benth.
Bauhinia forficata Link
Cassia ferruginea (Schrad.) DC.
Cassia grandis L.f.
Caesalpinia echinata Lam.
Caesalpinia ferrea Mart.
Caesalpinia peltophoroides Benth.
Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul.
Caesalpinia microphylla Mart.
Copaifera langsdorfii Desf.
Copaifera oblongifolia Mart. ex Hayne
Delonix regia Raf.
Hymenaea courbaril var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Y.T.Lee et Langenh.
Schizolobium parahyba (Vell.) Blake
Sclerolobium aureum Baill.
Sclerolobium paniculatum Vogel
Senna martiana (Benth.) H.S.Irwin et Barneby
Senna multijuga (Rich.) H.S.Irwin et Barneby
Senna speciosa Roxb.
Senna splendida (Vogel) H.S.Irwin et Barneby

Capparaceae (Caper family)[]

Cleome gynandra L.

Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family)[]

Lonicera japonica Thunb. ex A.Murray

Caryocaraceae[]

All the plants of this family are found only in the neotropics.

Caryocar brasiliense Cambess.

Caryophyllaceae (Carnation family)[]

Saponaria officinalis L.

Chrysobalanaceae[]

found in tropics or sub-tropics

Couepia grandiflora Benth.
Parinari obtusifolia Hook.f.
Hirtella glandulosa Spreng.
Hirtella martiana Hook.f.

Clethraceae[]

Clethra scabra Pers.

Clusiaceae[]

Kielmeyera coriacea Mart. & Zucc.

Cochlospermaceae[]

Cochlospermum regium Pilg.

Combretaceae[]

Terminalia argentea Mart.
Terminalia brasiliensis Eichl.
Terminalia fagifolia Mart.

Commelinaceae[]

Commelina agraria Kunth
Tradescantia virginica L.

Convolvulaceae (Bindweed or morning glory family)[]

Ipomoea purpurea Roth
Ipomoea batatoides Benth.
Jacquemontia blanchetii Moric.
Rivea corymbosa (L.) Hallier f.

Cucurbitaceae (Melon, cucumber, calabash, squash family)[]

Cayaponia ficifolia Cogn.
Citrullus vulgaris Schrad.
Cucumis mello L.
Cucumis sativus L.
Cucurbita maxima Duchesne
Cucurbita pepo L.
Luffa cylindrica M.Roem.

Cunoniaceae[]

Lamonia speciosa (Cambess.) L.B.Sm.

Dilleniaceae[]

Curatella americana L.
Davilla rugosa Poir.

Ebenaceae[]

Diospyros kaki L.f.

Ericaceae (Blueberry, Heather family)[]

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng.
Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.
Vaccinium corymbosum L.
Oxydendron arboreum Nearby

Erythroxylaceae (Coca family)[]

Erythroxylum campestre A.St.-Hil.
Erythroxylum suberosum A.St.-Hil.
Erythroxylum tortuosum Mart.

Escalloniaceae[]

Escallonia montevidensis DC.

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)[]

Alchornea iricurana Casar.
Alchornea triplinervia (Spreng.) Müll.Arg.
Aleurites fordii Hemsl.
Croton floribundus Spreng.
Croton macrobothrys Baill.
Croton salutaris Casar.
Dalechampia humilis Müll.Arg.
Euphorbia mellifera Seub.
Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch
Julocroton triqueter Baill.
Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels
Ricinus communis L.
Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.

Faboideae (Legume family)[]

Andira inermis (Wright) DC.
Amburana cearensis (= Torresea cearensis M.Allemão) (M.Allemão) A.C.Smith
Centrolobium robustum Mart. ex Benth.
Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud
Geoffraea spinosa Jacq.
Machaerium acutifolium Vogel
Machaerium scleroxylon Tul.
Medicago sativa L.
Melilotus alba Medik.
Melilotus officinalis Lam.
Myrocarpus frondosus M.Allemão
Sweetia fruticosa var. fruticosa Spreng. (= Ferreirea spectabilis M.Allemão)

Flacourtiaceae[]

Aberia caffra Harv. et Sond.
Banara parviflora Benth.
Casearia decandra Jacq.
Casearia sylvestris Sw.

Hamamelidaceae[]

Liquidambar styraciflua L.

Iridaceae[]

Crocus vernus (L.) Hill

Lamiaceae (Mint family)[]

Agastache foeniculum Kuntze
Agastache nepatoides
Eriope crassipes Benth.
Hyptis brevipes Poit.
Hyptis cana Pohl ex Benth.
Hyptis nudicaulis Benth.
Hyptis suaveolens Poit.
Hyptis umbrosa Salzm. ex Benth.
Lavandula spp. L.
Leonurus cardiaca L.
Leonurus sibiricus L.
Monarda fistulosa L.
Nepeta cataria L.
Nepeta × faassenii
Nepeta mussinii Spreng. ex Henckel
Nepeta siberica (= Nepeta macrantha, Dracocephalum sibiricum)
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Schrad.
Pycnanthemum verticillatum Pursh var. pilosum (Nutt.) T.S.Cooperrider
Pycnanthemum virginianum Trel. ex Branner et Coville
Salvia splendens Ker Gawl.
Thymus serpyllum L.
Vitex sellowiana Cham.

Lauraceae (Laurel family)[]

Nectandra cuspidata Nees et Mart. ex Nees
Nectandra rigida Nees
Persea americana Mill.
Persea gratissima Gaertn.
Ocotea kuhlmanni Vattimo
Ocotea pretiosa Mez

Lecythidaceae[]

Cariniana legalis Kuntze
Cariniana estrellensis Kuntze

Liliaceae (Lily family)[]

Allium cepa L.
Allium sativum L.
Smilax medica Schltdl. et Cham.
Smilax officinalis Griseb.

Lythraceae[]

Cuphea carthaginensis Macbride
Cuphea ingrata Cham. et Schltdl.
Cuphea linarioides Cham. et Schltdl.
Cuphea mesostemon Koehne
Heimia myrtifolia Hort.Berol. ex Cham. et Schltdl.
Lafoensia pacari A.St.-Hil.
Lagerstroemia indica L.

Magnoliaceae (Magnolia and tulip tree family)[]

Liriodendron tulipifera L.

Malpighiaceae[]

All the plants of this family are found in the neotropics.

Banisteriopsis campestris (A.Juss.) Little
Banisteriopsis clausseniana (A.Juss.) W.R.Anderson et B.Gates
Banisteriopsis gardneriana (A.Juss.) W.R.Anderson et B.Gates
Banisteriopsis pubipetala (Juss) Cuatrec.
Byrsonima crassa Nied.
Byrsonima crassifolia L.Rich
Byrsonima coccolobifolia Kunth
Byrsonima intermedia A.Juss.
Byrsonima subterranea Brade et Markgr.
Byrsonima verbascifolia Rich. ex Juss.
Heteropteris aceroides Griseb.

Malvaceae (Malva family)[]

Pavonia malvaviscoides A.St.-Hil.
Pavonia rosa-campestris A.St.-Hil.
Pavonia speciosa Kunth

Meliaceae (Mahagony family)[]

Cedrela fissilis Vell.
Cedrela odorata Vell.

Mimosoideae[]

Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.
Acacia paniculata Willd.
Acacia plumosa Mart. ex Colla
Albizia polyantha (Spreng.f.) G.P.Lewis (= Pithecelobium multiflorum (Kunth)Benth.)
Albizia polycephala (Benth.) Killip ex RecordTemplate:Dn (= Pithecellobium polycephalum Benth.)
Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan var. cebil (Griseb.) Altschul (= Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brean)
Anadenanthera contorta (Benth.) Brenan
Anadenanthera falcata Speg. (= Piptadenia falcata Benth.)
Anadenanthera peregrina Speg.
Calliandra dysantha Benth.
Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong
Enterolobium gummiferum (Mart.) Macbride
Inga affinis DC.
Inga edulis Mart.
Inga marginata Willd.
Inga paterno Harms
Inga sessilis Mart.
Leucaena glauca Benth.
Mimosa acutistipula Benth.
Mimosa bimucronata Kuntze
caesalpiniaefolia Benth.
Mimosa laticifera Rizzini et N.F.Mattos
Mimosa multipinna Benth.
Piptadenia gonoacantha Benth.
Piptadenia paniculata Benth.
Pithecolobium avaremotemo Mart.
Pithecolobium diversifolium Benth.
Pithecolobium dumosum Benth. (= Chloroleucon dumosum (Benth.) G.P.Lewis)
Pithecellobium inopinatum (Harms) Ducke
Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville
Stryphnodendron obovatum Benth.

Myrsinaceae[]

Rapanea ferruginea Mez (= Caballeria ferruginea Ruiz et Pav.)
Rapanea lancifolia Mez
Rapanea umbellata Mez

Myrtaceae (Myrtle family)[]

Campomanesia adamantium Blume
Campomanesia crenata O.Berg
Campomanesia guazumaefolia Blume
Campomanesia pubescens O.Berg
Campomanesia xanthocarpa O.Berg
Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) K.D. Hill & L.A. Johnson
Eucalyptus genus L'Her., specially the following species:

Eucalyptus alba;
Eucalyptus camaldulensis (This plants is usually an excellent choice for beekeeping.);
Eucalyptus citriodora;
Eucalyptus corymbosa;
Eucalyptus drepanophylla;
Eucalyptus maculata;
Eucalyptus melliodora;
Eucalyptus microcorys;
Eucalyptus oleosa (This plants is usually an excellent choice for beekeeping.);
Eucalyptus paniculata;
Eucalyptus citriodora;
Eucalyptus redunca (This plants is usually an excellent choice for beekeeping.);
Eucalyptus scabra;
Eucalyptus tereticornis;
Eucalyptus triantha;
Eucalyptus wandoo (This plants is usually an excellent choice for beekeeping.).

Eugenia brasiliensis Lam.
Eugenia caryophillata Thunb. (= Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merrill et Perry)
Eugenia convexinervia D.Legrand
Eugenia dombeyana DC.
Eugenia dysenterica DC.
Eugenia hyemalis Cambess.
Eugenia multicostata D.Legrand
Eugenia pyriformis Cambess.
Eugenia uniflora L.
Myrceugenia euosma (O.Berg) D.Legrand
Myrcia rostrata DC.
Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) O.Berg
Myrciaria glomerata O.Berg
Psidium araca Raddi
Psidium cinereum Mart. ex DC.
Psidium firmum O.Berg
Psidium guajava L.

Ochnaceae[]

Ouratea castaneifolia (DC.) Engl.
Ouratea floribunda Engl.
Ouratea spectabilis Engl.
Ouratea nana Engl.

Oleaceae (Olive family)[]

Olea europaea L.
Ligustrum imatophyllum
Ligustrum japonicum Thunb.

Oxalidaceae[]

Averrhoa carambola L.

Polygonaceae[]

Antigonon leptopus Hook. et Arn.
Fagopyrum sagittatum Gilib.
Polygonum cuspidatum Siebold et Zucc.
Polygonum punctatum Raf.

Passifloraceae (Passion flower family)[]

Passiflora haematostigma Mast.
Passiflora pohlii Mast.

Poaceae(Gramineae)[]

Paspalum notatum Flüggé
Saccharum officinarum L.
Zea mays L.

Proteaceae[]

Grevillea banksii R.Br.
Grevillea rosmarinifolia A.Cunn.
Grevillea thelemanniana Hueg.
Roupala brasiliensis Klotzsch
Roupala cataractarum Sleumer
Roupala heterophylla Pohl
Roupala montana Willd.
Roupala tomentosa Pohl

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family)[]

Celtis brasiliensis Planch.
Hovenia dulcis Thunb.
Rhamnus polymorpha (Reissek) Weberb.
Trema micrantha Blume
Zizyphus joazeiro Mart.

Rosaceae (Rose family)[]

Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.
Prunus amygdalus L.
Prunus armeniaca L.
Prunus avium (L.) L.
Prunus domestica L.
Prunus persica (L.) Batsch
Pyrus communis L.

Rubiaceae (Madder, bedstraw, coffee family)[]

Alibertia sessilis K.Schum.
Borreria verticillata G.Mey.
Borreria latifolia K.Schum.
Borreria suaveolens G.Mey.
Borreria verbenoides Cham. et Schltdl.
Cephalanthus occidentalis L.
Chinchona spp. L.
Coffea arabica L.
Coutarea hexandra (Jacq.) K.Schum.

Rutaceae[]

Citrus genus L., specially the following species:

Citrus aurantifolia Swingle
Citrus limonum Risso
Citrus medica L.
Citrus reticulata Blanco
Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck

Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack

Salicaceae (Willow and poplar family)[]

Salix amygdaloides Andersson
Salix bebbiana Sarg.
Salix caprea L.
Salix discolor Muhl.
Salix nigra Marshall

Sapindaceae (Soapberry family)[]

Cupania oblongifolia Mart.
Cupania vernalis Cambess.
Dodonaea viscosa Mart.
Magonia pubescens A.St.-Hil.
Matayba guianensis Aubl.
Serjania erecta Radlk.
Serjania grandifolia Sagot ex Radlk.

Scrophulariaceae[]

Buddleia brasiliensis Jacq.
Scrophularia californica Cham. et Schltdl.

Solanaceae (Tomato, potato, egg plant family)[]

Acnistus arborescens Schltdl.
Acnistus cauliflorus Schott
Solanum paniculatum L.

Styracaceae[]

Styrax camporum Pohl
Styrax ferrugineus Nees et Mart.

Sterculiaceae[]

Guazuma ulmifolia Lam.
Sterculia striata A.St.-Hil. et Naudin
Dombeya natalensis Sond.
Dombeya wallichii Benth. et Hook.f.
Waltheria tomentosa (J.R. et G.Forst.) St.John

Tamaricaceae[]

Tamarix gallica L.

Tiliaceae (Basswood, linden family)[]

Luehea candicans Mart.
Luehea divaricata Mart.
Luehea grandiflora Mart.
Luehea paniculata Mart.
Luehea rufescens A.St.-Hil.
Triumfetta semitriloba Jacq.

Ulmaceae (Elm family)[]

Trema micrantha (L.) Blume

Urticaceae (Nettle family)[]

Boehmeria caudata Sw.

Verbenaceae (Verbena family)[]

Aegiphila lhotskiana Cham.
Aegiphila tomentosa Cham.
Aloysia virgata (Ruiz et Pav.) Juss. (= Lippia urticoides (Cham.) Steud.)
Lantana camara L.
Lantana lilacina Desf.
Lantana trifolia L.
Lippia alba N.E.Br. ex Britton et P.Wilson
Lippia candicans Hayek
Petrea subserrata Cham.
Petrea volubilis L.
Zapania citriodora Lam. (= Lippia citriodora (Lam.) Kunth)

Vochysiaceae[]