Meadow buttercup pollen

Ranunculus acris

Bright buttery yellow, in the yellow range.

FloweringMay to July

PollenGood

NectarFair

SeasonSpring, Summer

WhereFarmland, Waste and verge

A dependable summer meadow standby that gives up its bright yellow pollen freely on sunny days.

Meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris) in flower — Photo: Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, 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 Evening primroseJune to September ColtsfootFebruary to April PrivetJune to July CowslipApril to May

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

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

Saw a load like this going in?

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

Pollen identifier