Pollen Colors by Bloom Season

Use this static season index to compare pollen colors by recorded bloom timing. Seasonal labels come from the plant records used by the interactive grid.

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

Season labels are approximate and can move earlier or later with climate, elevation, cultivar, pruning, mowing, rainfall, and unusual weather.

Use the season grouping to reduce the candidate list, then check the plant page for forage value, plant type, bloom-month notes, and identification cautions.

Related Guides

Fall

3 plant records in this group.

Spring

66 plant records in this group.

Apple Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 6 Ash Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Asparagus Red and rust / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Bell Heath Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 6 - 9 Berberis Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Birch Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 2 - 7 Blackthorn Red and rust / Spring / Zone 4 - 7 Blue Crocus Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Broad Bean Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 2 - 11 Cabbage Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 2 - 11 Carolina Silverbell Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Charlock Orange and amber / Spring / Zone not specified Coltsfoot Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Common Beech Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 7 Copper Beech Red and rust / Spring / Zone 4 - 7 Cotoneaster White and cream / Spring / Zone 4 - 7 Cowslip Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Crab Apple Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Daffodil Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Dwarf Fothergilla White and cream / Spring / Zone 5 - 8 Eastern Redbud White and cream / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Elm Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 2 - 9 False Acacia Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Field Bean Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 10 Flowering Currant Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 6 - 9 Forsythia Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 5 - 8 Gooseberry Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Gorse Red and rust / Spring / Zone 6 - 9 Great Camas Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Hawthorn Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Huckleberry Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Hyacinth Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Laurel Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 6 - 9 Laurustinus Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 7 - 9 Lilac (Common) Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 2 - 9 Lilac (Persian) Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 2 - 9 Maple Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 3 - 9 Moss Phlox Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 9 Mountain Ash Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Mustard Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 6 - 9 Northern Spicebush Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Oak Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Oil Seed Rape Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 9 Peach Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 5 - 9 Pear Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Pine Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 2 - 9 Plum Red and rust / Spring / Zone 5 - 9 Poplar Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 9 Privet Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 5 - 8 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 Sassafras Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Serviceberry Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 8 Siberian Squill Blue / Spring / Zone 2 - 8 Sycamore Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 Tulip Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Virginia Bluebells Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8 Wallflower Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 6 - 10 Walnut Yellow and gold / Spring / Zone 4 - 9 White Horse Chestnut Red and rust / Spring / Zone 4 - 7 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 Willow Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 2 - 9 Yellow Crocus Orange and amber / Spring / Zone 3 - 8

Spring to fall

11 plant records in this group.

Spring to summer

34 plant records in this group.

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 Bittersweet Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 8 American Persimmon Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Black Gum Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Blackhaw Viburnum Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Blue False Indigo White and cream / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Blueberry Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 7 Broom Red and rust / Spring to Summer / Zone 6 - 8 Bugle Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 10 Buttercup Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Californian Poppy Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 6 - 10 Celandine Poppy Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Cornflower White and cream / Spring to Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Cranberry Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 2 - 7 Crimson Clover Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Golden Alexanders Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Grape Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Honey Locust Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Mountain Laurel Neutral and gray / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Oakleaf Hydrangea Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Poison Ivy Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 10 Rosemary White and cream / Spring to Summer / Zone 7 - 10 Sheep Laurel Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 1 - 8 Smooth Beardtongue Yellow and gold / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Southern Catalpa Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Southern Magnolia Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 6 - 10 Strawberry Yellow and gold / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 10 Tree of Heaven Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Tulip Poplar Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Virginia Spiderwort Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Virginia Sweetspire Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Yellow Wild Indigo Orange and amber / Spring to Summer / Zone 3 - 9

Summer

70 plant records in this group.

Adam's Needle Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 10 American Basswood Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Basil White and cream / Summer / Zone 10 - 11 Bee Balm Neutral and gray / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Bindweed Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Bird's-Foot Trefoil Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Blackberry Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Blazing Star Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Borage Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Buckwheat Green / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Buttonbush Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Carrot White and cream / Summer / Zone 3 - 10 Common Mallow Purple and violet / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Courgette Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Cucumber Yellow and gold / Summer / Zone 4 - 11 Devil's Walking Stick White and cream / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Dill Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Evening Primrose (Common) Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 8 Evening Primrose (Wild) Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 False Indigo Bush Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Field Thistle Yellow and gold / Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Foxglove Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Fuchsia Yellow and gold / Summer / Zone 10 - 11 Hairy Willowherb Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Himalayan Balsam Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Hogweed Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 7 Indian Hemp Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 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 Lavender Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 8 Ling Heather Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Lupin Red and rust / Summer / Zone 4 - 8 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 Motherwort Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Onion Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 10 Oriental Poppy Neutral and gray / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Ox-Eye Daisy Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Phacelia Blue / Summer / Zone 2 - 10 Plantain (Buck) Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 8 Plantain (Ribwort) Orange and amber / Summer / 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 Rockrose Red and rust / Summer / Zone 8 - 11 Rosebay Willowherb Blue / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Rough Oxeye Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Sainfoin Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Shepherd's Purse Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 7 - 9 Sourwood Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 9 Squash Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Staghorn Sumac Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Summersweet Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Sweet Chestnut Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 8 Sweet Corn Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Thyme Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Toadflax Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 5 - 8 Tomato Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 2 - 11 Traveller's Joy Yellow and gold / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Trumpet Creeper White and cream / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Viper's Bugloss Blue / Summer / Zone 3 - 8 Virginia Creeper Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 3 - 9 Wild Honeysuckle (White) Yellow and gold / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Wild Honeysuckle (Yellow) Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 9 Winged Sumac Orange and amber / Summer / Zone 4 - 9

Summer to fall

30 plant records in this group.

Alfalfa Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone All Balsam Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 2 - 11 Black-eyed Susan Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Blue Vervain Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 8 Boneset Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 8 Buddleia Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 5 - 9 Burdock Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 10 Cardinal Flower Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Chicory White and cream / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 10 Common Lime Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 8 Common Snowberry Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 2 - 7 Dahlia Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 8 - 10 Daisy Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 10 Deadly Nightshade Yellow and gold / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Echinacea Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Fennel Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 4 - 9 Field Scabious (Pink) Red and rust / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Field Scabious (Red) Red and rust / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Fireweed Blue / Summer to Fall / Zone 2 - 8 Giant Ironweed White and cream / Summer to Fall / Zone 5 - 9 Goldenrod Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 2 - 8 Hairy Mountain Mint White and cream / Summer to Fall / Zone 4 - 8 Ragweed Yellow and gold / Summer to Fall / Zone 2 - 11 Simpson's Rosinweed Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 7 - 10 Smartweed Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 10 Spanish Needles Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 5 - 11 Sunflower Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 2 - 11 Swamp Rose Mallow Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 5 - 9 Threadleaf Coreopsis Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9 Yarrow Orange and amber / Summer to Fall / Zone 3 - 9

Winter

8 plant records in this group.

Year-round

2 plant records in this group.