Marsh Ragwort

[fruitynewt]

Not yet got my bees but I'm scouting out possible sites for a few hives next year. Not far from us is a large muddy lake with marsh ragwort growing in the margins. It's in bloom right now and about 50 foot of shoreline all around the lake is yellow with flowers. I recall from my childhood that some types of ragwort can be toxic. does anyone know if Marsh Ragwort is good for bees?

Rick.

[Joe]

I found an Article on the web about marsh ragwort. It didn't talk much about marsh ragwort's toxicity towards insects but at the bottom of the article was the following:

The alkaloids in Ragwort also rapidly reduce butterfat production in cattle, and taint honey produced by bees such that it is usually too bitter and off-color to market.

Another Article I found had this to say:

It must be emphasised that Ragwort is a major nectar source for many insects, especially:-

- Solitary bees (at least 30 species: 38 cited in one list).*
- Solitary wasps (at least 18 species; not the sort to harm people).
- Hoverflies (many species).
- Conopid flies (parasitic on solitary bees and bumblebees).
- Butterflies (Small Copper, particularly where other flowers may be scarce)
- Moths at night (including at least 40 noctuid moths).

From the above I would think it safe to assume that your bees won't have too much trouble with the marsh ragwort and that your honey is going to taste like $%#& :D

[fruitynewt]

Thanks for the references which relate to British species. The North American species is different but I suspect the same cautions apply. I grew up in england and my mother kept horses. I remember many a hot summer's day pulling ragwort to stop it engulfing the pasture.

I guess I'll put my hives on the neighbour's canola field farthest from the lake -  that should give them an incentive to stay away from the ragwort.

R.