Sunflower
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is grown in many European countries, above all Eastern and Southern ones, for its oil seeds; for bees it is an important source of nectar and pollen.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is grown in many European countries, above all Eastern and Southern ones, for its oil seeds; for bees it is an important source of nectar and pollen. Beyond sunflower oil, it also gives a bright yellow honey of medium colour with a weak to medium aroma and marked acidity.
The area sown changes from year to year with agricultural policy, so the honey volume changes too. It blooms in summer. In Ukraine's forest-steppe a strong colony collects 11-13 kg of marketable honey from sunflower in a good flow.
Why this matters to you: sunflower honey crystallises quickly, often hard, because it is rich in glucose. For a beekeeper that is a built-in property, not a sign of spoilage.
Facts
| Botanical origin | Helianthus annuus |
|---|---|
| Season | Summer; one of the main summer flows of Ukraine's forest-steppe |
| Region | Grown in many European countries, above all Eastern and Southern ones |
| Main use | Oil seed (sunflower oil); for bees, nectar and pollen |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Sunflower → kind of → Honey plants → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Honey plants
- In other topics
- 🌻 Sunflower oil
- Which honey it gives
- Sunflower honey
Frequently asked questions
What do bees take from sunflower?
Both nectar and pollen: in Eastern and Southern Europe it is an important source.
Is it true that sunflower gives the same amount of honey every year?
No. The sown area changes from year to year with agricultural policy, so the honey volume changes.
How much honey does sunflower give?
In Ukraine's forest-steppe a strong colony collects 11-13 kg of marketable honey in a good flow.
Why does sunflower honey crystallise so quickly?
It is rich in glucose, so it often sets fast and hard; that is a property of the honey, not spoilage.
What does sunflower honey look like?
Bright yellow, medium in colour, with a weak to medium aroma and marked acidity.
What to read next
- Sunflower honey — Monofloral honey from sunflower nectar: bright yellow, crystallising quickly and often hard; the plant name adds no market value.
- 🌻 Sunflower oil — Oil from sunflower seeds; the world produces roughly seven times more of it than olive oil, and Ukraine is one of the two largest producers.
Similar
Black locust · Rapeseed · Sweet chestnut · Heather (ling) · Lavender · Rosemary
Sources
- Persano Oddo L., Piro R. (2004) Main European unifloral honeys: descriptive sheets. Apidologie 35 (Suppl. 1)
- 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