Borage pollen

Borago officinalis

Blue grey, in the grey range.

FloweringJune to September

PollenGood

NectarYes

SeasonSummer, Autumn

WhereFarmland, Garden

Grown as a bee crop for its superb, fast-refilling nectar.

Borage (Borago officinalis) in flower — Photo: Christian Orlandi, CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia Commons

Easy to mistake for these

Closest pollen colours in our set, measured the same way the pollen identifier scores a match. Colour alone will not settle it, so check the flowering months and what is actually growing near your hives.

LaurustinusOctober to April Bell heatherJuly to August Rosebay willowherbJuly to August BrambleJune to August Viper’s buglossJune to August

Out at about the same time

BrambleGreenish grey Californian poppyBright orange Common limeYellow to greenish DogwoodPale creamy yellow ElderPale greyish yellow Evening primroseBright lemon yellow

Saw a load like this going in?

Sample the colour against all 89 plants, then keep a forage record per hive.

Pollen identifier