Black locust
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a tree that bees visit for nectar.
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a tree that bees visit for nectar. It is native to the north-eastern United States and is naturalised and widely planted in Europe. From this nectar bees make acacia honey, one of the most valued honeys on the European market: very light, liquid thanks to its high fructose content, with a weak floral and fresh-fruit aroma.
Nectar is plentiful but the crop varies: Ohio State University Extension calls the tree a rich nectar source that changes from year to year, with bloom in early summer. Most acacia honey comes from Eastern European countries. In Ukraine's forest-steppe a strong colony in a good flow collects up to 20 kg of marketable honey from white acacia, more than from lime (15-17 kg), buckwheat or sunflower.
Why this matters to you: for a beekeeper, black locust promises the biggest flow of the summer but never guarantees it, because the weather decides.
Facts
| Botanical origin | Robinia pseudoacacia |
|---|---|
| Season | Summer honey flow; bloom in early summer (Ohio data) |
| Region | Naturalised in Europe; most honey from Eastern Europe |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Black locust → kind of → Honey plants → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Honey plants
- Which honey it gives
- Acacia honey
Frequently asked questions
What do bees take from black locust?
Nectar, which becomes acacia honey. It is a rich nectar source, but the crop changes from year to year.
Is it true that acacia honey comes from acacia trees?
Mostly not. What is called acacia is Robinia pseudoacacia; the name acacia honey is often used loosely for this honey.
Where does black locust grow?
It is native to North America, naturalised and widely planted in Europe; most of the honey comes from Eastern European countries.
How much honey can a colony collect from black locust?
In Ukraine's forest-steppe a strong colony gathers up to 20 kg of marketable honey from it in a good flow, more than from lime, buckwheat or sunflower.
When does black locust bloom?
In early summer. Ohio State University Extension notes that its nectar supply changes from year to year.
Similar
Rapeseed · Sweet chestnut · Heather (ling) · Lavender · Rosemary · Thyme
Sources
- Persano Oddo L., Piro R. (2004) Main European unifloral honeys: descriptive sheets, Black locust honey. Apidologie 35 (Suppl. 1)
- Ellsworth D. (2015) Ohio Trees for Bees, Ohio State University Extension, ENT-71
- Bezpalyi I. F., Postoenko V. O., Polishchuk A. A. (2021) Biotechnological factors of bees ethology during nectar collection. Bulletin of Poltava State Agrarian Academy 2