Whitethorn Honey

Whitethorn Honey is a delicacy, but also very scarce. This is rather curious as it is one of those trees that seem to flower profusely every year, and it’s such a common sight in our countryside. But why do we only get Hawthorn or whitethorn honey every few years?

The tree is not self pollinated so relies on pollination to reproduce and develop its fruits, known as haws. Rather curiously, some years, the tree produces a lot of nectar to attract pollinators, which means that we get Whitethorn honey. In other years, the tree produces abundant pollen instead to be dispersed not only by visiting pollinators but also by the wind to nearby trees for pollination.

Nectar Production in wet springs

The weather plays a large role in determining the trees’ pollination strategy. In wet springs, the tree gauges the ground moisture level and produces lots of nectar. During dry springs, when it is dry and windy enough that the pollen won’t be washed away or made heavy by rain, it focuses instead on pollen production.
In wet springs, bees, along with other insects, play a crucial role in the pollination process by transferring pollen from one flower to another. After a prolonged wet spell in the spring, whitethorn produces an abundance of nectar, providing bees with a rich food source. This leads to the creation of delectable honey with distinct floral notes, much to the delight of honey enthusiasts.

Pollen Production in dry springs

During dry and windy springs, the tree adapts to the conditions by prioritizing pollen production. In these conditions, the plant invests more energy into creating and releasing pollen, ensuring its survival and continued propagation. This adaptation allows Whitethorn to maximize its chances of successful pollination. Even when the ground is dry and subsequently the water availability is limited for nectar production. These years, bees are seldom seen visiting, and colonies will not produce the delicious and much sought after Whitethorn honey.

Last year we got a great crop of Whitethorn honey and if we go by the rain we’ve been getting the last few weeks, chances are we might be in for a decent crop this year as well… Fingers crossed for a silver lining!

Oh, and did you know whitethorn flowers change colour from white to pink? If you want to learn more about Whitethorn, you can read more here: https://hannasbees.ie/whitethorn-folklore-bees-colour-changing-flowers/