Flowering currant pollen

Ribes sanguineum

Greyish cream, in the cream / white range.

FloweringApril to May

PollenGood

NectarGood

SeasonSpring

WhereGarden, Hedgerow

Its flowering is the old signal to think about the first inspection.

Flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) in flower — Photo: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5. 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.

False acaciaMay to June SnowberryJune to September Globe thistleJuly to September CotoneasterMay to June Ling heatherJuly to September

Confused with in the field

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

GooseberryPale greenish cream

Out at about the same time

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

Saw a load like this going in?

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

Pollen identifier