Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Jeffrey Tooker on August 09, 2006, 10:46:31 PM

Title: Oleander
Post by: Jeffrey Tooker on August 09, 2006, 10:46:31 PM
I have question about Oleander. I am in Northern California.  In the small community I live in there are about 15 Oleanders. The Oleander is a poisonus plant. Will this have an effect on the honey? I know that in the state Oleanders are common enough and must get into the honey produced.
Title: Oleander
Post by: Brian D. Bray on August 10, 2006, 02:53:21 AM
Just because a portion of a plant is poisonous does not mean that all of it is.  Rhubard is a good example the stock is delicious yet the leaves hold enough oxalic acid to be toxic.  Some other examples are Rhododendrons and jassamine.  Both are considered to have poisonous honey yet the bees harvest it and mix it with the rest of the nectar.  The proportion of toxic to safe honey is so low that the toxic affects are no longer a factor.

In my area Rhododendrons and their close relative Madrona are abundant and I've never had a problem with toxicity in honey.

See ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture pages 262 & 263.
Title: Oleander
Post by: Jeffrey Tooker on August 11, 2006, 01:48:31 AM
<<<[ The proportion of toxic to safe honey is so low that the toxic affects are no longer a factor>>>

That takes care of another problem.

Thank you.