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UK bee plants, and the colour of their pollen

89 plants a UK colony is likely to work, each with the pollen colour it gives, when it flowers, and what it is easily mistaken for. If you have a colour rather than a name, the pollen identifier works backwards from a sample.

Yellow

28 plants, earliest first
GorsePale lemonAll year, peak springHazelPale sulphur yellowJanuary to MarchColtsfootDeep golden yellowFebruary to AprilWinter aconiteDeep yellowFebruary to MarchBoxMuted yellowMarch to AprilWillow (goat)Brilliant lemon yellowMarch to AprilCharlockLemon yellowApril to JulyCherry laurelDull greenish yellowApril to JuneCowslipWarm yellowApril to MayField mapleYellow, sometimes greenish yellowApril to MayOilseed rapeIntense bright yellowApril to JuneComfreyDull pale yellowMay to JulyHawthornYellow brownMayHollyMuted pale yellowMay to JuneMeadow buttercupBright buttery yellowMay to JulyCommon limeYellow to greenishJune to JulyElderPale greyish yellowJune to JulyEvening primroseBright lemon yellowJune to SeptemberHogweedDull golden yellowJune to SeptemberHoneysuckleMuted yellowJune to SeptemberLavenderSoft golden yellowJune to AugustPrivetGolden yellowJune to JulyRockroseBright yellowJune to AugustSweet chestnutPale yellowJune to JulyCreeping thistlePale creamy yellowJuly to SeptemberGoldenrodGoldenAugust to OctoberIvyDull gold to greenishSeptember to NovemberMahoniaYellowNovember to February

Orange

8 plants, earliest first
SnowdropBright orangeJanuary to MarchCrocusOrange to orange yellowFebruary to MarchDandelionDeep orangeMarch to October, peak April to MayPearReddish yellowApril to MayLaburnumBrick orangeMay to JuneCalifornian poppyBright orangeJune to SeptemberSunflowerGolden orangeJuly to SeptemberMichaelmas daisyReddish yellowSeptember to October

Cream / white

21 plants, earliest first
HelleborePale creamy yellowJanuary to AprilYewPale creamy yellowFebruary to AprilGooseberryPale greenish creamMarch to MayRosemaryPale off-white creamMarch to MayApplePale creamy yellowApril to MayBluebellCreamy whiteApril to MayFlowering currantGreyish creamApril to MayRibwort plantainPale dull cream, faintly greyApril to OctoberCotoneasterDull pale creamMay to JuneFalse acaciaPale creamy whiteMay to JuneRowanPale creamMay to JuneDogwoodPale creamy yellowJune to JulyKnapweedVery pale olive creamJune to SeptemberMeadowsweetGreenish creamJune to AugustSnowberryGreyish whiteJune to SeptemberGlobe thistleWhitish, pale creamJuly to SeptemberHimalayan balsamGhostly whiteJuly to OctoberLing heatherWhitish creamJuly to SeptemberJapanese knotweedPale olive creamAugust to OctoberWinter clematisPale creamNovember to FebruarySweet boxCreamy whiteDecember to March

Green

7 plants, earliest first
AlderGreenish yellow to oliveFebruary to MarchAshDull olive greenApril to MayBerberisDull olive greenApril to MayOakDull oliveApril to MaySycamoreGreenish yellow to oliveApril to MayPurple loosestrifeGrey greenJune to SeptemberTraveller’s joyDull olive, a greenish yellowJuly to September

Brown

7 plants, earliest first
BlackthornCreamy tanMarch to AprilPoplarDull yellow brownMarch to AprilField beanDark chocolate brownApril to JuneWild cherryLight yellow brownApril to MayRed cloverDull reddish brownMay to SeptemberWhite cloverMid brownJune to SeptemberMarjoramDull tan-brownJuly to September

Grey

8 plants, earliest first
ElmPale greenish greyFebruary to MarchOriental poppyBlue grey to charcoalMay to JulyBorageBlue greyJune to SeptemberBrambleGreenish greyJune to AugustField poppyVery dark grey, nearly blackJune to JulyRaspberryPale grey whiteJune to JulyBell heatherPale dull lilac greyJuly to AugustLaurustinusGrey, sometimes with a greenish castOctober to April

Blue / purple

6 plants, earliest first
Siberian squillSteel blueMarch to AprilLupinMuted slate blue-greyJune to JulyPhaceliaDeep navy blueJune to SeptemberViper’s buglossBlue greyJune to AugustRosebay willowherbBlue green to grey blueJuly to AugustTeaselPale lavender, faintly pinkishJuly to August

Red

4 plants, earliest first
Red deadnettleOrange red to brickMarch to OctoberHorse chestnutBrick to rusty redMay to JuneRed horse chestnutDeep raisin redMay to JuneField scabiousDark brick orange-redJuly to September
Work backwards from a colour instead
Sample what is going in at the entrance and get a shortlist, with no account needed.
Pollen identifier