5.2 Perennials

PERENNIALS 53
Lupinus L.
lupine, lupin
per. (ann.)
Value for pollen: generally considered to be nectarless and of little value to the
beekeeper, even for P 35 ; L. angustifolia L. (narrow leaved or blue lupine) is grown on a
field scale for grazing or soil improvement and is an attractive source of P (and N?) for
honeybees 72 .
Notes: a legume which thrives on any well-drained soil, even poor sandy loams; Latin
name from lupus, wolf, because of an erroneous belief that this sp. destroys the soil. L.
perennis L. var. occidentalis S. Wats. 23 is more common than other sp. in s. Ont.; L.
polyphyllus Lind1. 23 is most common along dry roadsides and banks in P.E.I. and N.S.;
L. nootkatensis Donn. ex Sims. 23 is common to roadsides and open banks Avalon Pen.,
Nfld. to N.E. 23 .
Lythrum salicaria L.
purple loosestrife, spiked loosestrife, salicaire, bouquet violet
per. -37° to -29° C Jun-Sep 50-150 cm NP
Value for honey: HP5 16 ; H yield 23 kg/colony/season 17 ; an Ont. beekeeper reported a
117 kg surplus near a 200 ha field growing mostly this plant 72; N sugar concentration
30-72% 16
Value for pollen: found to be dominant P in H sampled from the n. bank of the St.
Lawrence R. (H was sampled on a regional basis) 22.
Honey: differing reports on quality of H: colour given as light, dark yellow and as
yellowish gren; classed as extra-light amber, flavour strong, aromatic, sharp 17 .
Notes: long dense spikes of purple flowers; moist sites; sun; naturalized in N. America,
wet meadows and river flood-plains etc., locally abundant; often aggressive, choking out
native vegetation, Nfld., Que., N.S. 23 , P.E.I. and probably in other provinces.
Malva moschata L.
musk mallow, mauve musquee
per. -37° to -29° C Jul-Aug 75 cm NP
Notes: naturalized in N. America and common in limestone soils of e. Canada and
B.C. 95 ; fields and roadsides, often old gardens; one or more forms abundant from Nfld.
to n.N.E., less common W. to Ont. and beyond 23 ; white, pink or blue showy flowers;
seeds freely; tincture made from leaves can be applied to stings for relief (place leaves
in jar, cover with methylated spirit, seal for 2-3 weeks, strain, dab leaf on stings as
required. Fresh leaves may also be effective) a.
Marrubium vulgare L.
white horehound, common horehound, marrube Blanc
per. -37° to -29° C 45 cm
Value for honey: HP2/5 16 ; N sugar concentration 27-37% 17 ; bees will often prefer this
herb to other attractive sources 3) ; Ballota nigra L. (black horehound, ballote noire) is
not such a good bee plant since its corolla is rather long (17 mm) for honeybees 35 .
Honey: has a greenish tinge; classed as amber to dark amber, when granulated, appears
dark and dirty; flavour is strong like horehound candy 17 .
Notes: small whitish flowers in axillary clusters; leaves and stems are used in cough
medicines or for flavouring candy 95 ; grows in poor soil; naturalized in N. America,
a The author cannot personally vouch for this remedy.