Sweet chestnut pollen

Castanea sativa

Pale yellow, in the yellow range.

FloweringJune to July

PollenGood

NectarYes

SeasonSummer

WhereWoodland, Garden

Gives a strong, dark, distinctive chestnut honey.

Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) in flower — Photo: fir0002 / flagstaffotos.net, GFDL 1.2. 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.

Creeping thistleJuly to September GorseAll year, peak spring ComfreyMay to July AshApril to May HazelJanuary to March

Out at about the same time

BorageBlue grey BrambleGreenish grey Californian poppyBright orange Common limeYellow to greenish DogwoodPale creamy yellow ElderPale greyish yellow

Saw a load like this going in?

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

Pollen identifier