Learning Beekeeping

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The honeyplants and times of Central Texas

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There are honeyflows and there are honeyflows. Major honeyflows produce the vast majority of the honey in the hive, while minor honeyflows are what hives build up on to have the workforce to harvest the Major honeyflows.

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For Texas, dandelion is a minor flow that contribute only to providing a little nectar to an overwintered colony. However when the hive is strong at about 10#, horsemint and Mesquite creates a major surplus in the hive.

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Here’s the best honeyflow Calender I can come up with for Central Texas Hill Country:

January - Mistletoe  – (produces abundant nectar according to the Texas Honeyplant book but hive population too low to harvest much)
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February - I’ve seen pollen but no honeyflow coming in early February. Some Elm and wild mustard pollen, but mainly Dandelion and Henbit pollen.

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March – Dandelion

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April – Yaupon Holly, Indian Blanket (this is the big honeyflow – light and tasty. Shows up right after bluebonnet fades) , Mesquite tree (the biggest honey source in the state)

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May- Indian Blanket, Horsemint,  Sweet Clover

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June – Horsemint, Mesquite, Sweet Clover, Indian Blanket

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July – none, Central Texas is scorched and even the roads melt.

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August -  Broomweed (if rain occurs)

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September – Broomweed, Goldenrod (main flow),  Asters

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October – Goldenrod, Broomweed (main  flow)

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November – Broomweed (if moisture permits)

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Bold green denotes Major Honeyflow
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Other reports of honey plants in Central Texas from Aisha on BeeSource.com forums:
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Goldeneye (an Aster genus – Found on caliche soil by side of road, esp in West Austin)
Purple bindweed (wild morning glory)
Cenizo bushes
Roosevelt weed
Bee brush or Kidneywood
climbing hempweed (wetland vine)

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Added by Beemaninsa in San Antonio from the Beesource forums.

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“Early Hill Country pollen and nectar flows vary widely on location and ground moisture and can include mistletoe, dandelion, agarita, persimmon, redbud, and various wildflowers. Later flows of mesquite and horsemint are available in some areas (april/june) Often broomweed is a major fall pollen source in the hill country (rain dependent) and can go well into November.”

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From Jeffrey Todd in Buda, TX

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“I am on the eastern edge of the Hill Country, in the Edwards Plateau region; our first pollen starts coming in around the middle to end of February and our last pollen is the end of September or first part of November.”

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Note – If you are an urban beekeeper, this may not apply to you. You will get honey from whatever your neighbors have in their yard, garden, and local parks. Good luck!

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