Charlock pollen

Sinapis arvensis

Lemon yellow, in the yellow range.

FloweringApril to July

PollenGood

NectarYes

SeasonSpring, Summer

WhereFarmland, Waste and verge

A wild mustard, much like rape both to the bee and to the eye.

Charlock (Sinapis arvensis) in flower — Photo: Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 3.0. 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.

Winter aconiteFebruary to March Willow (goat)March to April PrivetJune to July Evening primroseJune to September Meadow buttercupMay to July

Confused with in the field

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

Oilseed rapeIntense bright yellow

Out at about the same time

ApplePale creamy yellow AshDull olive green BerberisDull olive green BluebellCreamy white Cherry laurelDull greenish yellow CowslipWarm yellow

Saw a load like this going in?

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

Pollen identifier