Is anybody familiar with Evodia sp or Bee Bee trees? Several years ago when I started keeping bees I tried to grow these, one tree fro a couple of dozen has survived. The las three years it has looked like this.
It grows well and doesn’t seem to be suffering any damage. I added ironite the first year I noticed it and epson salts last year without any visible change. It looks like it will flower this year.
I have the same idea. Bee bee trees around the bee hives. Why didn’t your trees make it? What zone are you in?
I’m on zone 7a. It’s been so long, I don’t remember exactly why, most died in the early seedling stage. One was about 3’ tall, potted, when the leaves just started to turn yellow and fall off, it died. The one above is still living, about 10’ tall and the leaves look the same this year. Last year and this it formed a few flower buds then aborted them, I have never seen a bloom, If I ever decide that I need that space I will remove the tree. I have purchased seeds a couple of times but, except for the first batch, I have been unlucky at getting any to germinate.
I have planted quite a few trees/bushes for bees in addition to annual/perennial flowers. Of the bushes on of the best is Seven Sons Tree, prolific bloomer in late summer and is absolutely covered in pollinators including honey bees, but it only last 2-3 weeks.
I’m in 7b and have a mature Bee Bee tree. Looks set to bloom shortly. It came with the house so I don’t know at what stage it was planted. I’ll post a pic of it in bloom. I’ve never seen the amount of diversity of insects that visit it like other pollen or nectar sources. It’s crazy. All types of bees, wasps, butterflies, flies, beetles, hornets (though they might be hunting).
