Common name
|
Scientific name
|
Colour of honey
|
Importance as honey source
|
Importance as pollen source
|
Honey flavour
|
Honey density
|
Members comments
|
Wattles
|
Acacia sp.
|
|
nil
|
minor
|
|
|
Bees can collect pollen, but it is considered to have poor protein content.
|
Casuarinas
|
Casuarina sp.; Allocasuarina sp.
|
|
minor
|
minor
|
|
|
Bees collect copious quantities of pollen in some seasons. Pollen is cream coloured and the rust like material at the hive entrances are husks which are discarded.
|
Coconut palm
|
Cocos nucifera
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pumpkins
|
Cucurbita maxima
|
medium amber
|
nil to minor
|
major
|
|
light
|
Bees obtain good supplies of pollen (highest protein levels available to bees) from most pumpkins.
|
Other cucurbits
|
Cucurbita sp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
With the exception of pumpkins, cucurbits seem of little benefit to bees, but cucumbers can be useful.
|
White stringybark
|
Eucalyptus acmenoides
|
medium amber
|
minor
|
major
|
strong
|
light
|
A strong support species north of Hervey’s Range.
|
River red gum (River gum)
|
Eucalyptus camaldulensis
|
White to light amber
|
major
|
major
|
mild
|
dense
|
Most widely distributed tree in inland Australia. Honey candies readily, and needs to be carefully heated to render it.
|
Lemon-scented gum
|
Lophostemon citriodora
|
|
minor
|
medium
|
|
|
Close cousin to southern Spotted gum. It has a long bud growing period and can flower any month of the year.
|
Silver-leaf (broad-leaf) ironbark
|
Eucalyptus melanophloia
|
white to light amber
|
major
|
minor
|
good
|
heavy
|
|
Normanton box
|
Eucalyptus normantonensis
|
Light amber
|
medium
|
minor
|
|
|
Most responsive to ground moisture. Bees can build to swarming strength when pollen is collected from another source.
|
Ghost gum
|
Eucalyptus platyphylla
|
dark amber
|
minor
|
major
|
pleasant
|
moderate
|
In a good flowering year it is a good support species. It will not bud with insufficient ground moisture.
|
Hairy bloodwood
|
Eucalyptus setosa
|
dark to black
|
|
|
|
|
Common west of Charters Towers (occurs with E. papuana). Value to bees unknown.
|
Silver-leaf ironbark
|
Eucalyptus shirleyi
|
extra light amber
|
medium
|
minor
|
good
|
heavy
|
In major flowering year this is a good support species.
|
Grevillea
|
Grevillea sp.; hybrids esp. “Robyn Gordon”
|
amber
|
minor
|
nil
|
|
|
Grevilleas are often planted to attract nectar eating birds but of no major benefit to bees.
|
Brush box
|
Lophostemon confertus
|
extra white to light amber
|
minor
|
minor
|
choice
|
moderate
|
Other scrub trees flower at the same time, often spoiling this choice honey.
|
Swamp mahogany
|
Lophostemon suaveolens
|
extra white
|
medium
|
nil to minor
|
good
|
moderate
|
Produces heavily about one year in five, particularly in dry summer. Thin nectar is washed out by rain.
|
Soapy tea-tree
|
Melaleuca dealbata
|
medium amber
|
minor
|
minor
|
poor
|
light
|
Support species only.
|
Red bottle brush
|
Melaleuca viminglis
|
medium amber
|
minor to major in town
|
medium to major
|
fair
|
light
|
Small stands along most creeks, but street planting is a help.
|
Peltophorum
|
Peltophorum pterocarpum
|
amber to yellow
|
medium
|
major
|
fair
|
light
|
Useful source of pollen in town, bees build strongly and wax produced is orange.
|
Cockie apple
|
Planchonia careya
|
amber
|
minor
|
nil
|
very unpleasant
|
light
|
Honey is of strong and unpleasant character downgrading the flavour of any honey blended with it.
|
Pigweed
|
Portulaca bicolor
|
|
major
|
|
|
|
Occurs mainly in headland areas cultivated for irrigated crops.
|
Pigweed
|
Portulaca oleracea; P. pilosa
|
|
major
|
|
|
|
Occurs mainly in headland areas cultivated for irrigated crops.
|
Mintweed
|
Salvia reflexa
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mintweed grows quickly after early rainfall and produces sufficient pollen and nectar for building bees.
|
Rain tree
|
Samanea saman
|
light amber
|
medium
|
major
|
fair
|
light
|
Regular honey producer in town.
|
Umbrella tree
|
Schefflera (ex Brassaia) actinophylla
|
dark amber
|
minor
|
nil
|
fair
|
light
|
Bees can collect small quantities of this nectar which is nearly black. Bees work these flowers during rain.
|
African tulip
|
Spathodea campanulata
|
|
minor
|
|
|
|
Bees collect and are stimulated by the red stringy pollen.
|
Yellow bells
|
Tecoma stans
|
amber to yellow
|
minor
|
minor to medium
|
|
|
Bees are attracted to nectar of this support species.
|
Caltrop
|
Tribulus terrestris
|
|
minor
|
medium
|
|
|
Bees are often seen beside roads collecting lemon yellow pollen. The pollen is of high quality and accelerates brood rearing, soon after drought breaking rains.
|
Grasstree
|
Xanthorrhoea sp.
|
|
minor
|
minor
|
|
|
|
Yellow penda
|
Xanthostemon chrysanthus
|
extra light amber
|
major
|
medium
|
good
|
light
|
Flowers regularly around Cardwell. Major flowering in Townsville suburbs after big rain.
|