Any idea what this plant is, and if it is good for honey?

MariahK · Jun 9, 2015

Does anyone have any ideas what these bushes are and if the honey from them will be any good? The bee's just love them I mean the entire bush will hum once the whole thing blooms. Seriously I am talking bee's in the thousands. It's what actually won the argument to get bee's. My husband wasn't thrilled about having bee's in the thousands in the yard but when the bushes bloomed I took him outside and asked really whats the difference!:scratch: The next year we got bee's.. On the side note I found out a commercial bee keeper puts his hives about a mile away so if it's not good his are getting it too!

Dave A. · Jun 9, 2015

Can you take other pictures of the plant? Leaf type, size of plant etc. I'm trying to think what might be in bloom there on the wet side

michkel · Jun 9, 2015

I've seen this plant as well, and was wondering what it was. It gets to be a very tall bush and has waxy leaves. It's very fragrant.

BradC · Jun 9, 2015

That looks like a species of Privet. Its already bloomed and gone here in Georgia. My honey crop I believe is mostly privet this year. I am new Beek, but the flavor of our honey is good.

Brad Bee · Jun 9, 2015

BradC said:
That looks like a species of Privet.

I'm almost certain that it is. It looks like a species of Ligustrum (privet) to me as well. It's not the "wild" Chinese privet like we have as an invasive plant here, but it's almost certainly a ornamental variety of it.

Does it have a very strong, sweet smell?

MariahK · Jun 9, 2015

Here is another pic, it is probably about 14 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. There is a whole row of them together

I looked up privets and they do look like it! I will have to take a video some time in the next week or two when it fully blooms, It is a little freaky when you step outside and you can hear a loud hum from the bushes and see thousands of bees all over it. The row extends the entire length of my backyard. Between these and the black berries in bloom the flow is on heavy here. The bee's are flying in and out like bullets!

MariahK · Jun 9, 2015

Yes it actually is pretty strong and sweet

Brad Bee · Jun 9, 2015

There is so much of it that grows wild around our area that when it's blooming, no matter where you are the scent is strong. Riding down the road with my truck window open is pleasant. The Chinese variety is problematic though. It has taken over many places, blocking out native plants.

BradC · Jun 9, 2015

Indeed, it is very invasive. My backyard is overgrown with it. Front yard WAS but I gutted them. Still dealing with suckers from the roots. Wonderful smelling yards though!!

MariahK · Jun 9, 2015

I can say mine is not the Chinese variety as I have lived here 13 years and besides getting taller it hasn't spread. So defiantly not the invasive kind

rolftonbees · Jun 9, 2015

Looks like what we call ligustrums.

dsegrest · Jun 9, 2015

That's what I thought.

MariahK · Jun 9, 2015

I looked on trip that definitely looks like it

Any idea what this plant is, and if it is good for honey?

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