Red clover pollen

Trifolium pratense

Dull reddish brown, in the brown range.

FloweringMay to September

PollenFair

NectarMinor

SeasonSpring, Summer, Autumn

WhereFarmland, Hedgerow, Waste and verge

The florets run too deep for most colonies, so the loads that do come in are a modest bonus.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) in flower — Photo: George Chernilevsky, Public domain. 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.

White cloverJune to September Field beanApril to June MarjoramJuly to September BlackthornMarch to April PoplarMarch to April

Confused with in the field

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

White cloverMid brown

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