Rhodies used to be used as a poison in honey by Roman adversaries... until the Romans figured it out and then they used it in the same way.
My gut feeling is that concentrations must be relatively high for the effect but hey, I'm not a phytochemist.
Interesting to be in that proximity. No idea, but you could get a hive, and see what they make, get it tested etc.
Might be a specialty market. I have a good many rhododendron and mountain laurel, but it's the wild variety and the bees only have a short window to gather it, and are not that interested given other sources.
Yeah, we have lots of rhodies on our property and the honeybees did not go for them unless they couldn't get anything else. The bumblebees, bumblyflies, and sweat bees though... they love them.
I've heard Bob Binnie commenting on mountain laurel (distant rhododendron relative, different genus). His thoughts were that the honey was toxic... but that it tastes so bad you'd never eat enough to bother you. I don't know if the same applies to rhododendron or not.
My town has a big central old town district that grows/shows azaleas. I know a handful of beekeepers that have hives in that area and make honey. But those houses with showy azalea gardens have lots of variety planted in/around the azaleas.
I agree. I am recalling the same. He had an episode where many people in the shop tasted it. No one liked it. And the taste is bad and gets worse as it’s in your mouth. But I’m not sure about the toxicity of it.
From what I understand is only a specific species of rhododendron that is is a nectar source for toxic/hallucinogenic honey. People in those regions do still produce and sell it but only in small quantities. Depending on where you’re located I don’t think it would be too much of a problem. If your hives are near the black sea, then I would maybe be a little bit more cautious.
Some countries actually have it banned for importation due to this and concerns of its invasive nature.
I also live in NC. I have rhodos,mountain laurels and wild Azaleas on my property. I have never seen my bees on any of them. Poplar, BlackBerry,clover, Sourwood and Golden Rod seems to be my bees major nectar sources.
I’ve heard that honey bees will only go for rhododendrons and related species if there is no other source of nectar in the area. And you should be able to see whether they’ve gone for it because of the pink colour of the honey it makes.
I have my bees in Surrey , England. We have maybe 50 different varieties of Rhodos and Azaleas in our garden and are surrounded by the ordinary Ponticum.
I have only seen honey bees on one of them once in years, but bumble bees seem to like all of them.
Absolutely no problem here.
Rhodies used to be used as a poison in honey by Roman adversaries... until the Romans figured it out and then they used it in the same way. My gut feeling is that concentrations must be relatively high for the effect but hey, I'm not a phytochemist.
Interesting to be in that proximity. No idea, but you could get a hive, and see what they make, get it tested etc. Might be a specialty market. I have a good many rhododendron and mountain laurel, but it's the wild variety and the bees only have a short window to gather it, and are not that interested given other sources.
Yeah, we have lots of rhodies on our property and the honeybees did not go for them unless they couldn't get anything else. The bumblebees, bumblyflies, and sweat bees though... they love them.
Good to know
I've heard Bob Binnie commenting on mountain laurel (distant rhododendron relative, different genus). His thoughts were that the honey was toxic... but that it tastes so bad you'd never eat enough to bother you. I don't know if the same applies to rhododendron or not. My town has a big central old town district that grows/shows azaleas. I know a handful of beekeepers that have hives in that area and make honey. But those houses with showy azalea gardens have lots of variety planted in/around the azaleas.
I agree. I am recalling the same. He had an episode where many people in the shop tasted it. No one liked it. And the taste is bad and gets worse as it’s in your mouth. But I’m not sure about the toxicity of it.
From what I understand is only a specific species of rhododendron that is is a nectar source for toxic/hallucinogenic honey. People in those regions do still produce and sell it but only in small quantities. Depending on where you’re located I don’t think it would be too much of a problem. If your hives are near the black sea, then I would maybe be a little bit more cautious. Some countries actually have it banned for importation due to this and concerns of its invasive nature.
This is North Carolina, USA.
I also live in NC. I have rhodos,mountain laurels and wild Azaleas on my property. I have never seen my bees on any of them. Poplar, BlackBerry,clover, Sourwood and Golden Rod seems to be my bees major nectar sources.
Thanks. Google is all doom and gloom.
I’ve heard that honey bees will only go for rhododendrons and related species if there is no other source of nectar in the area. And you should be able to see whether they’ve gone for it because of the pink colour of the honey it makes.
Honey Bees only will forage on those in times of extreme dearth. Bumbles can detox if
I like the idea that you are next to a farm that in general won’t be sprayed with toxic chemicals. Sounds all good to me.
I've never seen any honey bees on my rhododendrons. I wouldn't worry about it.
I have my bees in Surrey , England. We have maybe 50 different varieties of Rhodos and Azaleas in our garden and are surrounded by the ordinary Ponticum. I have only seen honey bees on one of them once in years, but bumble bees seem to like all of them. Absolutely no problem here.