Box pollen

Buxus sempervirens

Muted yellow, in the yellow range.

FloweringMarch to April

PollenGood

NectarGood

SeasonSpring

WhereGarden, Hedgerow, Woodland

The small scented spring bloom is worked well for its abundant yellow pollen.

Box (Buxus sempervirens) in flower — Photo: Patrick Roper, CC BY-SA 2.0. 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.

Field mapleApril to May Common limeJune to July HogweedJune to September HollyMay to June CowslipApril to May

Confused with in the field

Noted by name in our own records, rather than worked out from the colour.

Willow (goat)Brilliant lemon yellow DandelionDeep orange Oilseed rapeIntense bright yellow Rosebay willowherbBlue green to grey blue

Out at about the same time

BlackthornCreamy tan DandelionDeep orange GooseberryPale greenish cream PoplarDull yellow brown Red deadnettleOrange red to brick RosemaryPale off-white cream

Saw a load like this going in?

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

Pollen identifier