This page is from Managing Alternative Pollinators: A Handbook for Beekeepers, Growers, and Conservationists, SARE Handbook 11. To purchase the book, visit www.sare.org or www.nraes.org, or call (607) 255-7654. Page 1 of this PDF has fair use information.
C
Appendix
Plants for Bee Ranching Eric Mader, Pollinator Outreach Coordinator, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
A
bee pasture is managed for plants that maximize bee reproduction (“bee ranching”). This is a different goal from habitat conservation or honey production. To be effective a pasture must provide an abundant bloom throughout the nesting period—especially in the early stages of bee emergence. In many cases companion planting is necessary. For example, the floor of a cherry orchard could
be planted with vetch or clover to provide ongoing floral sources for mason bees. Similarly, buckwheat is often planted near leafcutter bee shelters in alfalfa fields as a source of cut leaves for nest construction. The table on page 128 includes a variety of plants that are suitable for large-scale bee ranching organized by bloom period. Many of these plants have value in their own right as silage, oilseed, fruit, or cover crops.
127
128 Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Prunus spp.
Limnanthes alba
Brassica napus
Raphanus sativus
Vaccinium spp.
Trifolium incarnatum
Penstemon digitalis
Scrophularia lanceolata
Phacelia tanacetifolia
Borago officinalis
Trifolium ambiguum
Vicia villosa
Cherry
Managing Alternative Pollinators
Meadowfoam
Rapeseed
Oilseed radish
Blueberry
Crimson clover
Smooth penstemon
Early figwort
Phacelia
Borage
Kura clover
Hairy vetch
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Both
No
Scilla siberica
Siberian squill
Yes
Salix spp.
Native
Pussy willow
Crop
Scientific Name
Annual
Perennial
Annual
Annual
Perennial
Perennial
Annual
Shrub
Annual
Annual
Annual
Tree
Perennial
Tree
Type
Table C.1
1–3 ft.
3–7 ft.
2–3 ft.
1–4 ft.
10 in.
2–3 ft.
Spring– summer Spring– summer Spring– summer Spring– summer Spring– summer Spring– summer
18 in.
1–15 ft.
Spring– summer Spring– summer
2–3 ft.
3–5 ft.
Spring– summer
Spring
10–18 in.
5–100 ft.
Early spring
Spring
6 in.
5–15 ft.
Height1
Early spring
Early spring
Bloom Period
Fall
Fall
Fall
Spring
Fall
Fall
Fall or Spring
Anytime
Spring
1–2 lb.
0.5 lb.
4–8 oz.
4–8 oz.
1 oz.
5 oz.
1–2 lb.
5–10 ft. spacing
1 lb.
4 oz.
Spring or Fall
Depends on species
Depends on species
20–30 lb.
6–10 lb.
5–10 lb.
5–10 lb.
4 lb.
2 lb.
20 –30 lb.
5–10 ft. spacing
25 lb.
4–10 lb.
25 lb.
Bulbs spaced 10 in.
Bulbs spaced 10 in.
2 lb.
5–10 ft. spacing
Sow Per1 Acre
5–10 ft. spacing
Sow Per1 1000 sq. ft.
Fall
Anytime
Fall
Anytime
Sowing Season
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Soil Inoculant Required?
Plants that are Suitable for Large-Scale Bee Ranching
Good for cold climates.
Good choice for apple orchards. Provides minor apple scab suppression.
Very prolific bloom. Good pollen, and excellent nectar source.
One of the best bee pasture plants.
Short bloom period, extremely prolific nectar producer.
Commonly associated with various mason bees in the upper Mississippi River valley.
Excellent cover crop. Cold-hardy winter annual.
Good forage source for many bee species.
Avoid planting in rotation with cole crops due to shared pests and diseases.
Prolific bloom. Good nectar source.
A less common oilseed crop. Excellent for mason bees.
Avoid sterile ornamental varieties.
Very early blooming shade plant. Good forage source for mason bees.
Excellent early pollen source for emerging spring bees. European species may be better than native.
Comments
This page is from Managing Alternative Pollinators: A Handbook for Beekeepers, Growers, and Conservationists, SARE Handbook 11. To purchase the book, visit www.sare.org or www.nraes.org, or call (607) 255-7654. Page 1 of this PDF has fair use information.
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Vicia sativa
Vicia atropurpurea
Medicago sativa
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium hybridum
Dalea purpurea
Dalea candida
Fagopyrum esculentum
Nepeta sp.
Melilotus officinalis
Solidago speciosa
Aster novae-angliae
Common vetch
Purple vetch
Alfalfa
Red clover
Alsike clover
Purple prairie clover
White prairie clover
Buckwheat
Catmint
Sweet clover
Showy goldenrod
New England aster
Plants for Bee Ranching Perennial
Perennial
Biennial
Perennial
Annual
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Annual and perennial varieties
Annual
Annual
Perennial
Perennial
1. To convert to metric units, see conversion table, page 156.
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Trifolium repans
New Zealand white clover
No
Trifolium fragiferum
Strawberry clover
Fall
2–4 ft.
4 ft.
2–6 ft.
Spring– summer Fall
1–3 ft.
1–3 ft.
1–2 ft.
Summer
Summer
Midsummer
1–2 ft.
18 in.
Spring– summer
Midsummer
2–3 ft.
Spring– summer
2 ft.
2–3 ft.
April – May spring– summer
Summer
3 ft.
10 in.
10 in.
Spring– summer
Spring– summer
Spring– summer
Fall
Fall
Spring Summer
1 oz.
1 oz.
0.5–1 lb.
0.5 lb
2 lb.
Spring Summer
Fall
0.5–2 lb.
0.5–2 lb.
0.5–2 lb.
0.5 lb.
0.5–2 lb.
1–3 lb.
1–3 lb.
0.5–1 lb.
0.5–1 lb.
Fall
Fall
Fall
Anytime
Depends on variety
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
4 lb
4 lb
12–20 lb.
10 lb
30 lb.
5–10 lb.
5–10 lb.
15–20 lb.
15–20 lb.
15–25 lb.
20–30 lb.
20–30 lb.
12–15 lb.
12–15 lb.
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Good late season forage for cold climates.
Good late season forage for cold climates.
Very adaptable.
Many varieties, all good nectar plants. Drought tolerant but hard to establish from seed.
Good nurse crop for Phacelia. Excellent source of nest materials for leafcutter bees.
Very adaptable and cold and drought tolerant. Short but prolific blooms. Blooms slightly earlier than purple prairie clover.
Very adaptable and cold and drought tolerant. Short but prolific blooms. Blooms slightly later than white prairie clover.
Very cold hardy. Performs poorly in warm and dry climates. Short lived.
More tolerant of acid soils than other clovers. Short lived
Dormant varieties required for cold climates.
Not cold tolerant. Best vetch for mild climates.
More nectar than other vetches. Seed also less expensive.
Tolerates poorly drained soils.
Limited flood tolerance.
This page is from Managing Alternative Pollinators: A Handbook for Beekeepers, Growers, and Conservationists, SARE Handbook 11. To purchase the book, visit www.sare.org or www.nraes.org, or call (607) 255-7654. Page 1 of this PDF has fair use information.
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