Pollen and Nectar Forage Values

Use this static forage index to compare pollen color records by bee forage type and quickly find plants listed for pollen, nectar, or both.

Pollen color is highly variable. Lighting, pollen age, moisture, collection method, cultivar, and local growing conditions can all change how pollen appears. Use this as general visual guidance, not a scientific color standard or guaranteed field match.

How to Use This Page

Forage labels summarize the current plant record, but actual value changes with plant abundance, weather, cultivar, flower stage, local bee species, and management.

A plant listed for pollen or nectar should still be checked against local bloom and direct observation before drawing a field conclusion.

Related Guides

Nectar

2 plant records in this group.

Pollen

29 plant records in this group.

Pollen and nectar

193 plant records in this group.

Adam's Needle Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 10 Alfalfa Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone All Allium Yellow and gold / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Almond Red and rust / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Alsike Clover Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 8 American Basswood Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 American Bittersweet Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 8 American Persimmon Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Apple Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 6 Asparagus Red and rust / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Aster Orange and amber / Fall / Zone 3 - 8 Balsam Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 2 - 11 Basil White and cream / Summer / Zone 10 - 11 Bee Balm Neutral and gray / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Bell Heath Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 6 - 9 Berberis Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Bindweed Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Bird's-Foot Trefoil Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Black Gum Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Black-eyed Susan Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Blackberry Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Blackhaw Viburnum Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Blackthorn Red and rust / Spring / Zone 4 - 7 Blazing Star Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Blue Crocus Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Blue False Indigo White and cream / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Blue Vervain Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 8 Blueberry Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 7 Boneset Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 8 Borage Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Box Orange and amber / Year-round / Zone 5 - 8 Broad Bean Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 2 - 11 Broccoli Orange and amber / Spring to Fall / Zone 2 - 11 Buckwheat Green / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Buddleia Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 5 - 9 Bugle Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 10 Burdock Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 10 Buttercup Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Buttonbush Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Cabbage Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 2 - 11 Calendula Orange and amber / Spring to Fall / Zone 2 - 11 Cardinal Flower Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Carolina Silverbell Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Carrot White and cream / Summer / Zone 3 - 10 Catnip Orange and amber / Spring to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Celandine Poppy Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Charlock Orange and amber / Spring / Zone not specified Chicory White and cream / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 10 Clematis Yellow and gold / Spring to Fall / Zone 4 - 9 Coltsfoot Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Common Lime Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 8 Common Mallow Purple and violet / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Common Snowberry Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 2 - 7 Cornflower White and cream / Spring to Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Cotoneaster White and cream / Spring / Zone 4 - 7 Courgette Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Cowslip Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Crab Apple Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Cranberry Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 2 - 7 Crimson Clover Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Daffodil Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Dahlia Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 8 - 10 Daisy Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 10 Dandelion Red and rust / Spring to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Deadly Nightshade Yellow and gold / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Devil's Walking Stick White and cream / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Dill Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Dogwood Orange and amber / Spring to Fall / Zone 2 - 9 Dwarf Fothergilla White and cream / Spring / Zone 5 - 8 Eastern Redbud White and cream / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Echinacea Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Evening Primrose (Common) Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 8 Evening Primrose (Wild) Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 False Acacia Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 False Indigo Bush Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Fennel Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 4 - 9 Field Bean Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 10 Field Scabious (Pink) Red and rust / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Field Scabious (Red) Red and rust / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Field Thistle Yellow and gold / Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Fireweed Blue / Summer to Fall / Zone 2 - 8 Flowering Currant Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 6 - 9 Forsythia Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 5 - 8 Foxglove Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Giant Ironweed White and cream / Summer to Fall / Zone 5 - 9 Golden Alexanders Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Goldenrod Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 2 - 8 Gooseberry Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Grape Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Great Camas Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Green-and-Gold Orange and amber / Spring to Fall / Zone 5 - 9 Hairy Mountain Mint White and cream / Summer to Fall / Zone 4 - 8 Hairy Willowherb Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Hawthorn Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Himalayan Balsam Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Hogweed Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 7 Holly Yellow and gold / Winter / Zone 5 - 9 Honey Locust Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Huckleberry Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Hyacinth Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Indian Hemp Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Ivy Orange and amber / Fall / Zone 6 - 10 Jewelweed Yellow and gold / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Joe Pye Weed Red and rust / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Knapweed Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Laurustinus Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 7 - 9 Lavender Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 8 Lilac (Common) Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 2 - 9 Lilac (Persian) Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 2 - 9 Ling Heather Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Maple Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 3 - 9 Marjoram Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 6 - 9 Meadowsweet Yellow and gold / Summer / Zone 3 - 7 Melon Yellow and gold / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Milkweed Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Mint White and cream / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Moss Phlox Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 9 Motherwort Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Mountain Ash Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Mountain Laurel Neutral and gray / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Mustard Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 6 - 9 Northern Spicebush Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Oakleaf Hydrangea Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Oil Seed Rape Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 9 Onion Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 10 Ox-Eye Daisy Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Ozark Witch Hazel Orange and amber / Winter to Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Peach Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 5 - 9 Pear Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Phacelia Blue / Summer / Zone 2 - 10 Plum Red and rust / Spring / Zone 5 - 9 Poison Ivy Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 10 Privet Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 5 - 8 Purple Prairie Clover Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Ragwort Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 8 Raspberry Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Red & White Clover Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Red Dead Nettle Red and rust / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Red Horse Chestnut Red and rust / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Rhododendron Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Rosebay Willowherb Blue / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Rosemary White and cream / Spring to Summer / Zone 7 - 10 Rough Oxeye Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Sainfoin Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Sassafras Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Serviceberry Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Sheep Laurel Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 1 - 8 Shepherd's Purse Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 7 - 9 Siberian Squill Blue / Spring / Zone 2 - 8 Simpson's Rosinweed Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 7 - 10 Smartweed Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 10 Smooth Beardtongue Yellow and gold / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Snowdrop Red and rust / Winter / Zone 3 - 7 Sourwood Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Southern Catalpa Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Southern Magnolia Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 6 - 10 Spanish Needles Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 5 - 11 Squash Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Staghorn Sumac Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Strawberry Yellow and gold / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 10 Summersweet Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Sunflower Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 2 - 11 Swamp Rose Mallow Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 5 - 9 Sweet Chestnut Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Sycamore Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Threadleaf Coreopsis Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Thyme Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Toadflax Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 8 Traveller's Joy Yellow and gold / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Tree of Heaven Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Trumpet Creeper White and cream / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Tulip Poplar Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Viper's Bugloss Blue / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Virginia Bluebells Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Virginia Creeper Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Virginia Spiderwort Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Virginia Sweetspire Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Wallflower Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 6 - 10 White Horse Chestnut Red and rust / Spring / Zone 4 - 7 White Sweet Clover Orange and amber / Spring to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Wild Bluebell Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 5 - 9 Wild Cherry Red and rust / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Wild Geranium Blue / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Wild Honeysuckle (White) Yellow and gold / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Wild Honeysuckle (Yellow) Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Willow Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 2 - 9 Winged Sumac Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Winter Aconite Yellow and gold / Winter / Zone 3 - 7 Winter Heath Red and rust / Winter / Zone 6 - 9 Yarrow Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Yellow Crocus Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Yellow Sweet Clover Orange and amber / Spring to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Yellow Wild Indigo Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9