Holly pollen

Ilex aquifolium

Muted pale yellow, in the yellow range.

FloweringMay to June

PollenGood

NectarFair

SeasonSpring, Summer

WhereWoodland, Hedgerow, Garden

Only the male bushes offer pollen, and the bees work them quietly for a week or two.

Holly (Ilex aquifolium) in flower — Photo: Björn S..., 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.

CowslipApril to May HoneysuckleJune to September Field mapleApril to May HogweedJune to September BoxMarch to April

Out at about the same time

ComfreyDull pale yellow CotoneasterDull pale cream False acaciaPale creamy white HawthornYellow brown Horse chestnutBrick to rusty red LaburnumBrick orange

Saw a load like this going in?

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

Pollen identifier