Stone fruit trees (Prunus sp.)

Deciduous trees and shrubs with hermaphroditic white to slightly pink flowers that develop into edible fruits of various colours. In Switzerland, the wild cherry (P. avium), plum (P. domestica), sour cherry (P. cerasus), apricot (P. armeniaca), and blackthorn (P. spinosa) are commonly found.

Importance for bees: There are many species of stone fruit trees. Their abundant flowering represents, in many regions, one of the first significant sources of nectar of the beekeeping season.

Distribution: Plum trees are cultivated in orchards throughout Switzerland. The apricot tree is grown mainly in Valais. Wild cherry is very common both north and south of the Alps and grows in forests, forest edges, and hedgerows. Sour cherry is cultivated and often occurs in the wild, as does blackthorn, which frequently grows in hedges and along roadsides. All fruit trees are sensitive to frost, but they also require a cold period before flowering, which limits their distribution both to the north and to the south.

Flowering period: March to May

Pollen Cherry, sour cherry:    ❶❷❸❹

Pollen Apricot, plum:  ❶❷ ∅∅

Nectar Cherry, sour cherry:   ❶❷❸❹

Nectar Apricot, plum:  ❶❷ ∅∅

Legend: Beekeeping value is indicated using the scale: 1 (low), 2 (medium), 3 (good) and 4 (very good)
(Maurizio & Schaper, 1994; Pritsch, 2007).