Bee Forage Field Guide
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- Woody cone-like fruits persist on branches all year — very distinctive
- Long dangling catkins appear before leaves in late winter
- Shrubby tree always found along stream banks and wet edges
Stream banks, wetland edges, and low-lying moist areas throughout Lafayette County.
One of the earliest pollen sources of the year — critical for stimulating winter brood rearing before most plants bloom.
- Small red flowers cover the whole tree before any leaves appear
- 3–5 pointed lobed leaves with red stems
- Paired winged seeds (samaras) ripen red in spring
Extremely common throughout North Mississippi in forests, roadsides, and yards.
One of the first nectar and pollen sources of the year — bees work it heavily on warm late-winter days.
- Small pink-purple tubular flowers
- Round scalloped leaves clasp directly around a square stem
- Low-growing; covers lawns and disturbed ground in dense patches
Lawns, roadsides, fields, and any disturbed ground — extremely common and easy to find.
Bees work henbit heavily on warm late-winter days; provides crucial early nectar and pollen when little else is blooming.
- Small reddish flower clusters appear before leaves in late winter
- Distinctive asymmetrical leaf base — one side lower than the other
- Flat papery winged seeds released in spring
Common in floodplains, roadsides, and disturbed areas throughout the region.
Pollen source only; bees collect reddish-brown pollen on warm late-winter days to support early brood production.
- Bright yellow 4-petaled flowers in clusters at stem tips
- Grows 1–3 feet tall in disturbed areas and fields
- Lower leaves are lobed and hairy; upper leaves clasp the stem
Fields, roadsides, and disturbed agricultural areas.
Bees work the bright yellow flowers for both nectar and pollen; look for yellow pollen loads on foragers in March.
- Vivid magenta-pink flowers cover the entire tree before leaves — unmistakable in spring
- Heart-shaped leaves appear after bloom
- Small tree or large shrub, often at forest edges
Forest edges, roadsides, and yards throughout Lafayette County — one of the most visible spring trees.
Bees eagerly work redbud flowers for nectar and pollen; the bright pink bloom makes it easy to watch forager activity from a distance.
- Tiny 5-petaled white to pink flowers with darker pink veins
- Narrow grass-like leaves; plant only 3–6 inches tall
- Carpets woodland floors in early spring
Moist woodland floors and shaded areas, often in large colonies.
Small but abundant early wildflower; bees visit frequently on warm days in early spring.
- White to pink 5-petaled flowers in clusters; appear just as leaves emerge
- Cultivated trees in orchards and yards; wild seedlings at forest edges
- Strong sweet fragrance when in full bloom
Orchards, yards, and as escaped trees along fencerows and forest edges.
Excellent nectar and pollen source; bees work fruit blooms heavily — a single apple tree can attract hundreds of foragers.
- Small white 5-petaled flowers in clusters; appear before or with leaves
- Often forms dense thorny thickets along fencerows
- Produces small red-yellow plums in summer
Fencerows, forest edges, and roadsides; often grows in thickets.
Bees work wild plum flowers heavily for nectar and pollen; thickets in bloom are buzzing with forager activity.
- Fuzzy silver catkins (pussy willows) appear before leaves
- Long narrow lance-shaped leaves
- Usually found near water
Stream banks, pond edges, and wet low-lying areas.
Critical early-season source — bees collect bright yellow pollen from catkins on the first warm days of late winter.
- White flowers in elongated drooping clusters (racemes) — distinctive
- Leaves have fine teeth and reddish-brown hairs along midrib below
- Dark reddish-gray bark with horizontal lenticels
Forest edges, roadsides, and disturbed areas — one of the most common trees in North Mississippi.
Bees work the fragrant white flower clusters heavily for nectar and pollen in April.
- Round white flower heads on long stems above 3-part leaves
- Leaves often have a pale chevron mark
- Low-growing; common in lawns, pastures, and roadsides
Lawns, pastures, roadsides, and any open sunny area — extremely abundant in Lafayette County.
One of the most important honey plants in North Mississippi; the spring white clover flow is a primary driver of your honey crop.
- Tall bright crimson-red elongated flower heads — unmistakable color
- Grows 1–2 feet tall, more upright than white clover
- Look for it in fields and along roadsides as a cover crop
Agricultural fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas where planted as a cover crop.
Bees work crimson clover eagerly; the vivid red fields are easy to spot and often covered with foragers in March and April.
- White 5-petaled flowers in clusters on thorny arching canes
- Compound leaves with 3–5 leaflets; thorny stems
- Forms dense thickets along fencerows and forest edges
Fencerows, roadsides, forest edges, and disturbed areas — extremely common.
A major surplus honey plant; blackberry thickets in bloom fill the air with bees and fragrance. One of the best spring forage sources.
- Trailing/climbing vine with feathery compound leaves ending in tendrils
- Dense clusters of purple and white pea-like flowers
- Covers fields and roadsides in a purple haze when blooming
Agricultural fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas; commonly planted as a cover crop.
A significant nectar source; fields of blooming vetch attract enormous numbers of bees.
- Small urn-shaped or bell-shaped flowers, white to pinkish, in drooping clusters
- Shrub 1–3 feet tall with oval leaves
- Found in drier woodland understory
Dry to moist acidic woodland understory; common on upland slopes.
Bees work the small bell-shaped flowers for both nectar and pollen in early April.
- Star-shaped 5–7 pointed leaves — very distinctive; brilliant red in fall
- Spiky round seed balls on branches and ground all year — unmistakable
- Tall straight tree with corky ridged bark on branches
Extremely common throughout North Mississippi in forests, yards, and roadsides.
Pollen source only; bees collect large amounts of sweet gum pollen in April. The spiky seed balls make it easy to ID.
- Large tree with swollen base when growing in water
- Oblong leaves, sometimes with a few irregular teeth
- Found standing in or adjacent to standing water
Swamps, river floodplains, and persistently flooded bottomlands.
Provides nectar and pollen in early spring; present in bottomland areas around Lafayette County.
- Hanging clusters of white fragrant pea-like flowers — very showy
- Compound leaves with small oval leaflets; paired thorns at leaf bases
- Deeply furrowed dark bark on mature trees
Roadsides, disturbed areas, and forest edges throughout the region.
One of the finest honey trees — produces a light, mild, prized honey. When black locust blooms the apiary will be in overdrive. Flowers last only about 10 days.
- Oval shiny leaves; one of the first trees to turn brilliant scarlet in fall
- Small greenish flowers not showy; small blue-black fruits in fall
- Horizontal branching; often in moist but not flooded sites
Upland and lowland forests, forest edges, and moist slopes.
Bees work the inconspicuous flowers for nectar and pollen in spring; a solid contributor to the spring flow.
- Large tulip-shaped flowers with orange band at base — unique and unmistakable
- Distinctive 4-lobed leaves shaped like a tulip outline
- Tall straight tree; one of the largest eastern hardwoods
Forests and forest edges throughout North Mississippi; very common in the Oxford area.
A major honey tree; produces abundant nectar in large cup-shaped flowers. Heavy forager traffic often visible without seeing the blooms — they're way up top.
- Evergreen tree with spiny-tipped glossy dark green leaves — familiar Christmas holly
- Small white 4-petaled flowers; red berries on female trees in winter
- Medium tree; common in woodland understory and yards
Forest understory, woodland edges, and commonly planted in yards.
Bees work the small white flowers for nectar and pollen; the red berries in winter help you locate trees to watch in spring.
- Small evergreen shrub with small oval leaves and tiny white flowers in dense clusters along stems
- Abundant small red berries in winter — very showy
- Leaves smaller and less spiny than American holly
Forest edges, roadsides, and understory throughout the region; very common in North Mississippi.
An underrated surplus plant; yaupon blooms prolifically and bees work it heavily. Dense thickets in full bloom are worth watching.
- Distinctive blocky dark bark broken into small squares — very recognizable year-round
- Small creamy-white urn-shaped flowers, not showy
- Orange fruits persist into winter; deer love them
Forest edges, old fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas — very common.
Bees work the small tubular flowers for nectar and pollen; the blocky bark makes it easy to find trees to watch in spring.
- Dense clusters of small white flowers with a strong sweet fragrance — you'll smell it before you see it
- Semi-evergreen shrub with small oval opposite leaves
- Extremely common invasive forming large thickets along roadsides everywhere
Roadsides, forest edges, stream banks, and disturbed areas — the most abundant shrub in Lafayette County.
The single most important surplus honey plant in North Mississippi. When privet blooms the entire landscape smells sweet and hives go berserk. This is your primary honey crop.
- Showy trumpet-shaped flowers, orange-red outside and yellow inside — very distinctive
- Climbing vine with compound leaves ending in branched tendrils
- Evergreen; climbs high into trees; stem shows a cross pattern when cut
Climbing over trees and shrubs in forests, forest edges, and bottomlands.
Bees work the large trumpet flowers intensely for nectar; look up into tree canopies in April to find it blooming overhead.
- Leaves of three, let it be — glossy 3-part leaves, middle leaflet on longer stalk
- Climbs trees via hairy rope-like aerial roots; also grows as ground cover
- Small yellowish-white flowers; white berries in fall
Everywhere — forests, roadsides, fencerows, and yards throughout the region.
Bees work it for nectar and pollen — the honey is safe even though the plant causes rash. Note locations to avoid during hive inspections.
- Pink to mauve globe-shaped fragrant flower clusters on 2–4 foot upright stems
- Large oval leaves with prominent pale midrib; milky sap when broken
- Large warty seed pods split open in fall releasing silky-tufted seeds
Old fields, roadsides, and disturbed open areas.
Bees visit for nectar and pollen; also watch for monarch butterflies — milkweed is a good indicator of a healthy habitat.
- Small tree with distinctive heart-shaped leaves that turn red-purple in fall
- Hanging catkin-like flower spikes in June; clusters of white waxy berries in winter
- Invasive; common in wet areas and roadsides
Roadsides, disturbed areas, and bottomlands; more abundant south of Oxford.
A significant nectar source in early summer when little else is blooming; more relevant if you have it locally or travel bees south.
- Compound leaves with a winged midrib between leaflets — distinctive feature
- Large dense upright cone-shaped clusters of small yellow-green flowers
- Turns brilliant red in fall; fuzzy dark red berry clusters persist in winter
Open fields, roadsides, forest edges, and disturbed upland areas — very common.
An important summer forage plant blooming into the dearth period; bees work the flower clusters heavily in June and July.
- Long drooping sprays of small white urn-shaped flowers — looks like lily of the valley on a tree
- Narrow finely-toothed leaves turn brilliant scarlet in fall
- Small to medium tree on acidic upland slopes
Acidic upland slopes and ridges in the hills north and east of Oxford.
Produces one of the finest and most prized honeys in the South. The distinctive drooping flower sprays in June are easy to spot from a distance.
- Large white to cream flowers turning pink-purple as they age — on the same plant
- Distinctive cotton bolls develop after bloom
- Grown in agricultural fields throughout the region
Agricultural fields throughout Lafayette and surrounding counties.
Cotton is a major nectar source during the summer dearth; if you have cotton fields within 2 miles your colonies may produce summer honey.
- Candelabra-like stems with pencil-thin spikes of tiny blue-purple flowers
- Flowers open from bottom of spike upward — only a ring blooms at any time
- Grows 2–5 feet tall in moist areas
Wet meadows, stream banks, pond edges, and moist disturbed areas.
Bees work the tiny blue flowers methodically; look for it in wet areas during summer when foraging options are limited.
- Low-growing crop with 3-part compound leaves and small pink-purple pea-like flowers
- Fuzzy stems and seed pods
- Grown in large fields throughout the region
Agricultural fields throughout Lafayette and surrounding counties.
Soybeans can produce a significant summer honey crop; a major agricultural forage source during the dearth if fields are within foraging range.
- High-climbing vine with bipinnately compound leaves — very finely divided, almost fernlike
- Small greenish-white flowers in flat-topped clusters
- Small berries ripen from green to purple-black
Forest edges, fencerows, and disturbed areas; climbs over other vegetation.
Bees work the inconspicuous flowers for nectar during the summer; look along fencerows and forest edges.
- Pink to rose-colored dense cylindrical flower spikes at stem tips
- Lance-shaped leaves, often with a dark chevron or blotch marking
- Grows in moist disturbed areas, often in masses
Moist disturbed areas, pond margins, wet ditches, and stream banks.
Bees work the pink flower spikes steadily through summer into fall; a reliable forage source during the late dearth.
- Climbing vine with heart-shaped leaves; distinctive persistent winged fruit
- Small greenish-white flowers in elongated clusters
- Native vine in bottomland forests
Bottomland forests, swamp margins, and moist forest edges.
Provides nectar in midsummer during the dearth; found in wetter bottomland areas.
- Arching plumes of tiny bright yellow flowers — the classic fall wildflower
- Lance-shaped leaves alternate up the stem
- Grows 2–5 feet tall in old fields, roadsides, and open areas
Old fields, roadsides, and open disturbed areas — abundant throughout the region.
The fall goldenrod flow is critical for winter stores and final winter bee production. When goldenrod blooms the hives will smell distinctively sharp and pungent.
- Flat-topped clusters of fuzzy white flowers at the top of 3–5 foot stems
- Opposite lance-shaped leaves with serrated edges
- Late-blooming; common in moist open areas and disturbed ground
Roadsides, moist fields, forest edges, and disturbed areas.
Blooms in late summer into fall alongside goldenrod; bees work the white flower clusters heavily as part of the fall flow.
- Small daisy-like flowers with white rays and yellow center
- Barbed needle-like seeds that stick to clothing and animal fur — you've definitely felt these
- Branching annual 1–3 feet tall in disturbed areas
Disturbed areas, roadsides, fields, and garden edges — extremely common.
You've definitely been stuck by the seeds — now you know it's a valuable bee plant. Bees work Spanish needle intensely in September.
- Daisy-like flowers with purple, blue, or white rays around a yellow center
- Multiple species; vary from 1–4 feet tall
- Bloom later than goldenrod; often growing alongside it
Old fields, roadsides, woodland edges, and open disturbed areas.
Asters are a critical late fall forage plant alongside goldenrod; bees work both simultaneously to pack away final winter stores.
- Shrub 4–10 feet tall with small toothed leaves
- Female plants in fall are covered in silvery-white cottony seed heads — visible from far away
- Often grows in large colonies in moist to wet disturbed areas
Roadsides, disturbed areas, and wetland margins.
An important late-season forage plant; the masses of small white flowers attract large numbers of bees in September and October.