Rowan pollen

Sorbus aucuparia

Pale cream, in the cream / white range.

FloweringMay to June

PollenGood

NectarFair

SeasonSpring, Summer

WhereWoodland, Garden, Moor and heath

A froth of cream blossom that draws a good mixed crowd in late spring.

Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) in flower — Photo: Borealis55, 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.

Winter clematisNovember to February False acaciaMay to June Globe thistleJuly to September YewFebruary to April Sweet boxDecember to March

Confused with in the field

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

HawthornYellow 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