Horse chestnut pollen

Aesculus hippocastanum

Brick to rusty red, in the red range.

FloweringMay to June

PollenGood

NectarYes

SeasonSpring, Summer

WhereGarden, Woodland

The classic red pollen seen on bees in May. The flower even changes colour once its pollen is spent.

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) in flower — Photo: Donar Reiskoffer, CC BY 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.

Field scabiousJuly to September Red deadnettleMarch to October LaburnumMay to June PearApril to May Red horse chestnutMay to June

Out at about the same time

ComfreyDull pale yellow CotoneasterDull pale cream False acaciaPale creamy white HawthornYellow brown HollyMuted pale yellow 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