Camelias - Will Bees visit?

[JudyM]

A Beekeeper in the York County Beekeepers Association, York, SC had the following question.  What do you think?

I am debating between planting privet or camelia shrubs this Fall to block my hives view from the road. I know bees visit privets, but do you know about camelias? And if so, are they a nice tasting nectar source?

... Judy

[AllenF]

Go with chinese privet.   It may be a invasive weed, but bees make good honey from it.  Just won't look as pretty.

[Intheswamp]

Go with chinese privet.   It may be a invasive weed, but bees make good honey from it.  Just won't look as pretty.

Allen, is this the same privet hedge that I'm thinking about.  Shallow but extensive mats of roots..can get up to probably twenty feet tall or so...small white fragrant flowers, zillions of dark colored seeds with a germination rate of 1000%....chokes out most other plants if allowed to....suckers up from the root system???

I've got a virtual forest of this across the highway from me and a good bit around the edge of the yard.  It's hated, but if it's good for the bees....cool!!!! (said from a remnant from the 70's<grin>).

Ed

[asprince]

I live just down the road from the headquarters of the American Camelia Society. When I first started bee keeping I kept a couple of hives on their property. They did ok but I get far more honey from hives located near privet hedge. Around here Camelias bloom in the winter and early spring. On cool rainy days bees do not forage much. Privet hedge bloom in late spring when the weather is warmer.

Steve   

[JudyM]

Thanks for the comments on this post.  I have passed them on.  Does anyone know how the honey would taste from Camelias?

[sc-bee]

My bees get a little pollen from the Camellias not sure if they are a good nectar source. As said above camellias are early winter bloomers I don't imagine you would get much off them if they are a source (to harvest or taste that is). York county SC, I am sure you are aware all honey in SC is considered wild flower except for the lucky one in the upstate that gets a sourwood bloom. I see folks in SC peddle peach honey, strawberry honey etc, it just ain't so. Just a gimmick!

I am sure you have plenty privet in your area. If an attractive hedge is what you want have you considered a thick holly ( I have a thick holly hedge at one corner of my house). They also love the two American Holy trees I have in my yard. It is a short bloomer but the bees love it.

[AllenF]

You will not harvest any honey from camellias.  Wrong time of the year to harvest honey.  Also, you would need several hundred acres of a single blooming plant to be sure to get just honey from that plant.  Bees will collect from 2 million flowers to make just one pound of honey.

[sc-bee]

You will not harvest any honey from camellias.  Wrong time of the year to harvest honey.  Also, you would need several hundred acres of a single blooming plant to be sure to get just honey from that plant.  Bees will collect from 2 million flowers to make just one pound of honey.

A bit more straight forward than my reply but my sentiments exactly ;)
Still it gives you a good feeling to plant something the bees like and watch them work. The holly is awesome with the fresh scent and the bees buzzing. In particular listening from our screened in porch.

[AllenF]

One thing that gets on my nerves is when someone here in Metro Atlanta shows me a jar of dark honey they made and tells me that it is some flower honey that they have in the garden, or clover honey because they have in their front yard.  There may be a little bit in there, but just think of how much is beyond their sight blooming.   White sourwood honey in July in the mountains, ya, but not down here.   

[Grieth]

I have three large camellias in my house garden, but have never seen a bee on them.  They have lots of blooms at present, and although it is winter my bees are active.