5.2 Perennials

PERENNIALS
Clematis paniculata J.F. Gmel.
sweet autumn clematis, clematite a panicules
per. -23° to -21° C late Aug vine to 30 m NP
Value for honey and pollen: attractive 91 .
Notes: white flowering exotic clematis with an excellent fruit display.
Clematis vitalba L.
traveller's joy, clematite des bois
per. -20° to -23° C vine late Aug NP
Value for honey: observed to be "buzzing" with bees 35 .
Notes: flowers in white to greenish-white panicles, fragrant.
Colchicum autumnale L.
meadow saffron, autumn crocus, fall crocus, colchique, dame nue, veilleuse
per. -29° to -23° C Oct 10 cm
Value for pollen: very attractive, especially if little else is available 35 .
Notes: naturalizes in rough grassy areas; dried corms and seed source of medicinal
colchicum and colchicine; spreads locally to meadows and fields 23 .
Coronilla varia L.
crown vetch, coronille bigarde
per. -37° to -29° C Jun-Sep (N)P
Value for pollen: not a good source of N for honeybees 54 ; bees have been known to
starve on large acreages of this (e.g. Penn.) 54; more attractive for P 54; did not appear to
secrete N (Guelph, Ont.) 1 .
Notes: long-lived drought tolerant legume that grows in soils of very low fertility;
especially valuable for holding banks; stand improves with age and chokes out weeds 4 ;
roadsides, waste land and old house sites, originally cultivated, now abundantly but
locally established 23 .
Crocus L.
crocus
per. (bulb) Apr or Sep 5-12 cm (N)P
Value for honey: N is sometimes available if it accumulates and rises sufficiently in
the long flower tubes for the honeybee to be able to reach it; usually more attractive for
p72 .
Value for pollen: abundant supply of bright orange P which is high in protein;
beekeepers usually contend that the orange (or dark yellow) crocus is more attractive to
honeybees than crocuses of other colours 35 ; chilled crocus P may be toxic to
bees (see Section 10).
Notes: naturalizes in lawns or under trees; many spp. available, either spring or autumn
flowering.
Dahlia Cay.
dahlia
per. (tuber) tender Jul-frost 45-75 cm NP
Value for honey and pollen: several bees may work on blossom at once 72 ; dwarf
bedding singles last the longest and therefore are the best choice 35 .
Notes: tender tuberous plants which have been garden favourites; single cvs. only
visited by bees.
45