Alfalfa (lucerne)
Also known as: Alfalfa, Lucerne honey plant
Alfalfa, or lucerne (Medicago sativa), is a worldwide forage legume that yields a lot of nectar when it is allowed to flower.
Alfalfa, or lucerne (Medicago sativa), is a perennial forage legume with three-part leaves, a root that reaches 4 m and racemes of 5 to 40 flowers, mostly blue or purple, sometimes yellow. It comes from the Mediterranean basin and south-western Asia, was among the first forage crops to be domesticated and is now grown worldwide from 36° south to 58° north.
Alfalfa produces a large amount of nectar; estimates run from 62 kg to 2 t per hectare. Yet when it is cut for hay just as flowering begins, the beekeeper gets little or no alfalfa honey. Left for seed, one strong colony per half hectare can store 25–45 kg, while at about seven colonies per hectare there is little surplus, and colonies weaken fast on alfalfa alone.
Honey bees are also clumsy pollinators here: an Estonian study found they made over 90 % of bee visits, but most took nectar from the side of the flower without tripping it. EU honey law allows alfalfa honey up to 10 g of sucrose per 100 g, twice the usual limit.
Why this matters to you: alfalfa feeds bees only where it is allowed to bloom, so seed crops, not hay fields, are where alfalfa honey comes from.
Facts
| Botanical origin | Medicago sativa L., legume family (Fabaceae) |
|---|---|
| Region | From the Mediterranean basin and south-western Asia; grown worldwide, 36° S to 58° N |
| Colour | Mostly blue or purple, sometimes yellow |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Alfalfa (lucerne) → kind of → Honey plants → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Honey plants
- Which honey it gives
- Alfalfa honey
Frequently asked questions
Are alfalfa and lucerne the same plant?
Yes. Alfalfa, or lucerne (Medicago sativa), is a perennial forage legume with three-part leaves.
Is it true that honey bees are the best alfalfa pollinators?
Not quite. An Estonian study found they made most bee visits, but most took nectar from the side of the flower without tripping it.
Where does alfalfa come from originally?
From the Mediterranean basin and south-western Asia; it was among the first forage crops to be domesticated.
Why can hay fields not give alfalfa honey?
Because hay is cut just as flowering begins, so the beekeeper gets little or no honey. Seed crops left to bloom are the source.
How deep does an alfalfa root go?
As far as 4 m, which helps the plant as a perennial forage legume.
Similar
Black locust · Rapeseed · Sweet chestnut · Heather (ling) · Lavender · Rosemary
Sources
- Heuzé V., Tran G., Boval M., Noblet J., Renaudeau D., Lessire M., Lebas F. (2016) Alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO
- Mänd M., Martin A.-J., Maavara V. (1994) Significance of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) behaviour on the pollination of alfalfa. Estonian Agricultural University (FAO AGRIS record)
- Council Directive 2001/110/EC relating to honey (consolidated text)
- Persano Oddo L. et al. (2004) Botanical species giving unifloral honey in Europe. Apidologie 35, S82-S93