crepyt myrtles

Keith13 · May 14, 2008, 07:27:48 PM

do the bees utilize this tree.. I guess this is sort of a southern US question

Cindi · May 15, 2008, 10:19:31 AM

Keith, yes I heard that the bees love this shrub. I planted one this year, which I bought from a nursery. I will know for surely myself if this is true, but I am positive it is. BEautiful day in this great life. Cindi

Keith13 · May 15, 2008, 10:32:56 AM

Cindi,
Isaw you called it a shrub. it must get cold enough where you are to kill it back in the winter. Down here in the south they grow to trees 30 or 40 feet tall well some species do of course you have the dwarf varieties as well, but IMHO it is the most overplanted tree in the south every new house it seems has 4 or 5 trees planted around it. but if the bees do in fact visit this tree I for sure will not care that it is as overplanted as it is

JP · May 15, 2008, 10:33:50 AM

I don't think these trees turn the bees on all that much.

...JP

Cindi · May 15, 2008, 10:41:45 AM

JP, oooh, time will tell that tale. The variety that I planted evidently only grows to 8 feet maximum. Different variety I guess. I will be disappointed if the bees have not an interest, but that is OK, it sounded like a pretty shrub (not a tree here). Beautiful and most awesomely great day, Cindi

asprince · May 15, 2008, 11:14:16 AM

My hives are located at a commercial tree farm with acres and acres of crape myrtle. I see a few bees on the white ones, but none on the colors. What a shame because they are so abundant here in the south and the blooming period is very long.

Steve

KONASDAD · May 15, 2008, 12:06:17 PM

they go to white a fair amount and the red less. OK tree for bees. It does provide nectar when a lot of other plants have quit for the summer dog days and the fall flow hasn't yet arrived.

JP · May 15, 2008, 01:44:54 PM

Quote from: Cindi on May 15, 2008, 10:41:45 AM
JP, oooh, time will tell that tale. The variety that I planted evidently only grows to 8 feet maximum. Different variety I guess. I will be disappointed if the bees have not an interest, but that is OK, it sounded like a pretty shrub (not a tree here). Beautiful and most awesomely great day, Cindi

Its just not a tree the bees get a lot from, they are pretty to look at though, quite a beautiful tree, I have a dwarf one in my front yard.

...JP

qa33010 · May 16, 2008, 01:18:12 AM

I only see them on when there is nothing better available.

JP · May 26, 2008, 07:22:10 PM

To clarify even further, a friend and mentor of mine who has been keeping bees for well over twenty yrs says there is virtually nothing that crepe myrtles have to offer bees.

...JP