Flowering Plants/Trees Back to Honey Plants
Catalpa trees have been planted thru the mid west as shade trees and wind breaks. They bloom in late June and early July. The Iowa Geological Survey "Honey Plants of Iowa" indicates that large amounts of nectar are produced. We have a number of Catalpa trees growing in our vicinity (Ohio) which bees eagerly visit. There are not enough of them to provide a honey crop however. The tree is very fragrant and the tree blooms for about 10 days. Canadian distribution is to Southern Quebec and Southern Ontario. It is native to Eastern United States. It is not mentioned at all by Lovell and Pellett mentions that beekeepers who have bees situated near such planting should find the trees of material value.
Description of nectar
We could find no reference to the color of honey produced from the nectar of Catalpa.
Description of flower and pollen grains from The page to the bottom is from Iowa Geological Survey Bulletin No. 7 Honey Plants of Iowa published in 1930 for the Iowa Geological Survey by the state of Iowa.
