Bee-friendly flowers and plants in Vietnam
Food sources for bees and pollinators in South East Asia
A honey bee on coffee tree flowers. Photo by Bees4life
Bees4life made a list of bee-friendly flowers in Vietnam. This list can be also applied to many other countries in South East Asia, maybe with little adaptations.
If you are looking for a more general article about bee-friendly flowers in Europe, you can read more on this page: Bee-friendly plants
First of all, what does bee-friendly mean in the context of plants?
It means simply that those flowers provide significant amounts of nectar or pollen or both.
You might wonder why not all flowers produce nectar.
Well, this is because a good portion of flowers are wind-pollinated, meaning they don’t produce any kind of reward (=sugary nectar) to transport pollen around.
They might just produce pollen, which is still interesting for bees, but not enough.
Another part of flowers is ornamental flowers that have been bred and modified in a way that is mostly pleasing the human eye, often with little to no functionality for the surrounding environment.
That means they produce little to no nectar and are therefore not a significant food source for pollinators.
Let’s focus instead on the flowers and plants producing large amounts of pollen and/or nectar.
For this purpose, we looked up several resources from biologists and report their findings as follows:
First resource: Asian Beekeeping in the 21st Century
Link: Asian Beekeeping in the 21st Century, Chantawannakul, Panuwan, Williams, Geoffrey, Neumann
Plants for bees (Apis species)
| Vietnamese name | English name | Scientific name | Harvest season | Nectar | Pollen |
Distribution in Vietnam |
| Bạc hà dại | Wild mint | Esholtzia cypriani Pavol. | 10-12 | +++ | ++ | Ha Giang only |
| Bạch đàn trắng | Red gum | Eucalyptus camaldulensis D. | 4 | ++ | ++ | North, Central |
| Bí đỏ | Pumpkin | Cucurbita pepo L. | 2-5 | + | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Bầu | Green gourd | Benincasa cerifera Savi. / Benincasa hispida | 2-4 | + | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Bưởi | Pomelo | Citrus grandis Oshek. | 2-3 | + | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Cafe Arabica | Arabica coffee | Coffea arabica L. | 11-3 | ++ | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Cafe Liberica | Coffea liberica | Coffea excelsea Achev. | 9-10 | ++ | ++ | Central, South |
| Cafe Robusta | Robusta coffee | Coffea robusta Lindens. | 11-2 | ++ | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Cam | Orange | Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck. | 2-3 | + | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Cây cao su | Rubber Tree | Hevea brasiliensis | 2-4 | +++* | + |
North, Central, South
|
| Ngũ gia bì | Umbrella plant | Schefflera octophylla Lour Harms | 4-5 | +++ | + | North, Central |
| Chanh Kiên | Rangpur /lemandarin | Citrus limonia | 1-2 | + | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Trà | Tea | Thea sinensis | 9-12 | + | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Chôm chôm | Rambutan | Nephelium lappaceum | 3-5 | +++ | + | South |
| Xuyến chi | Black-jack, beggar-ticks, cobbler’s pegs, Spanish needle | bidens pilosa L. | all year | +++ | ++ | North, Central |
| Bớp Bớp | Siam Weed, Christmas bush, devil weed, camfhur grass | Eupatorium odoratum L. | 12-1 | ++ | + |
North, Central, South
|
| Dẻ ăn quả | Chinkapin | Castanopis boisii Hickel. | 11-12 | ++ | + | North, Central |
| Dưa leo | Cucumber | Cucumis sativus L. | 3, 10 | + | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Dưa hấu | Watermelon | Citrullus lanatus Mats. | 4-5 | ++ | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Dừa | Coconut | Cocos nucifera L. | all year | +++ | + |
North, Central, South
|
| Cẩm quỳ | Kenaf | Hibiscus cannabinus Var. | 4-7 | ++ | + | North, South |
| Điều | Cashew | Anacardium occidentale L. | 11-12 | +++* | – | South |
| Dã quỳ | Mexican Sunflower | Tithonia diversifolia Gay. | 10-11 | ++ | + | Central, South |
| Keo đen | Black wattle, Hickory wattle, forest mangrove | Acacia mangium Willd | 4-7 | +++* | + |
North, Central, South
|
| Lúa | Rice | Oryza sativa L. | 4, 9 | – | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Bắp | Corn | Zea mays L. | 4-12 | – | +++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Nhãn | Longan | Euphoria longan Steud | 2-4 | +++ | + | North, Central |
| Sắn | Cassava | Manihot esculenta C. | 10-11,5-8 | +++* | + |
North, Central, South
|
| Sắn dây | Kudzu | Pueraria tonkinensis Gagnep. | 11-1 | ++ | + |
North, Central, South
|
| Hoa sen | Lotus | Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. | 5-8 | – | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Sòi tía/sòi bạc | Tallow Tree | Sapium discolor Muell. | 4-5 | +++ | + | North, Central |
| Đước đen | Black mangrove, river mangrove, khalsi | Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco | 4-5 | ++ | + | North |
| Táo tàu | Jujube | Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. | 9-10 | + | North | |
| Tràm | Cajeput tree | Melaleuca leucadendron | 1-4, 6-8 | +++ | ++ | South |
| Hoa mắc cỡ | shameplant, sleepy plant | Mimosa pudica L. | 10-11 | – | ++ |
North, Central, South
|
| Vải | Litchi | Litchi sp. | 2 | ++ | + | North |
| Vải | Litchi | Litchi sp. | 2-3 | +++ | + | North, Central |
| Vải | Lychee | Litchi chinensis Sonn. | 3-4 | +++ | + | North, Central |
| Vẹt Dù | oriental mangrove | Bruguiera gymnorrhiza | 6-7 | +++ | ++ | North |
| Trâm mốc/Trâm Vối/Vối rừng | jamun tree | Eugenia jambolana Roxb. | 4-5 | ++ | ++ | North |
| Mè | sesame | Sesamum indicum L. | 5-8 | ++ | + |
North, Central, South
|
Second resource: Plant–pollinator interactions in tropical monsoon forests in Southeast Asia
Link: Plant–pollinator interactions in tropical monsoon forests in Southeast Asia
| Vietnamese name | English name | Scientifc name | Distribution | Kind of bee |
| Tếch, giá ty | Teak Tree | Tectona grandis | SEA, Viet Nam |
honeybees, small bees
|
| Giáng hương | Burma padauk | Pterocarpus marocarpus | SEA, Viet Nam | honeybees |
| rắc giây, trắc dây | Liana type | Dalbergia rimosa | SEA, Viet Nam | honeybees |
| – | Willow Leaf | Hygrophila salicifolia | SEA, Viet Nam | Small bee |
| Lá giang | Sour soup creeper | Aganonerion polymorphum | SEA, Indochina |
Honeybee, amegilla, small bee
|
| blackboard tree | Alstonia scholaris | SEA |
Honeybee, wasp
|
|
| thành ngạch nam | Yellow Cow Wood | Cratoxylum cochinchinensemor Cratoxylon cochinsinensis | Vietnam |
Yylocopa, Amegilla
|
| Trai đơn giản | – | Murdania simplex | Indochina |
Megachili, amegilla
|
| Tầm sét; Bìm ngón tay; Khoai xiêm | type of morning glory | Ipomoea digitata | Vietnam |
Megachili, amegilla
|
| Bìm sinh đôi; Bìm đôi | merremia gemella | Merremia gemella (Burm. f.) Hallier f. Roth, 1821. | Vietnam | amegilla |
| Sổ bà | elephant apple | Dillenia Aurea / hookeri / ovata | Vietnam |
Honeybees, amegilla
|
| Củ gấu tàu, cói gấu tàu | – | Aporusa macrostachyus | SEA |
Honeybees, amegilla
|
| Đỏm lỡm; Thổ mật tù. | spinous kino tree | Bridelia retusa | indochina |
Small bee, wasp, ant
|
| Cách hoa (Sumatra) | hidden flower | Cleistanthus sumatranus | Vietnam, China | Small bee |
| Bum bup gai | – | Mallotus barbatus | Vietnam | Small bee |
| thảo quyết minh, hạt muồng muồng, Đậu ma |
wild senna | Cassia tora L. Synonym of Senna tora (L.)Roxb. | Seeds available in Vietnam |
Amegilla, small bee
|
| Lục lạc ba lá tròn; Sục sạc sọc; muồng lá tròn |
chique chique, rattleweed |
Crotalaria pallida | indochina |
Megachili, amegilla, small bee
|
| Ba chẽ; Niễng đực; đậu bạc đầu; ván đất |
Triangular Horse Bush | Dendrolobium triangulare | Vietnam | Small bee |
| Xoay; Xây; Lá mét (Kiền kiền) |
velvet tamarind | Dialium cochinchinensis Pierre | Vietnam |
Honey bee, small bee
|
| Cỏ đậu | perennial peanut | Arachis pintoi | Vietnam | |
| Chàm bụi. | wild indigo | Indigofera suffruticosa | Vietnam | Megachile |
| Trinh nữ xanh | nila grass | Mimosa invisa Mart. ex Colla | Vietnam | Small bees |
| Mắc cỡ, Trinh nữ | shameplant | Mimosa pudica | Vietnam |
Trigona small bees
|
| Lim vàng, hoàng linh | – | Peltophorum dasyrrhachis | Vietnam |
Small bee, amegilla, megachilem xylocopa
|
| Giáng hương; Giáng hương chân; song lã |
Burmese Rosewood, Angsana |
Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kurz | Vietnam |
Honey bee, xylocopa, small bee
|
| ụ mật; Gõ mật; Gõ đen; Gõ xẻ; Gõ bung lao |
– | Sindora siamensis | Vietnam | Amegilla |
| Dây kim luông; Huyết rồng hoa nhỏ | Butea parviflora | Spatholobus parviflorus (Roxb. ex DC.) Kuntze | Vietnam |
Small bee, amegilla, megachilem xylocopa, wasp
|
| Củ rối bằng | Bandicoot berry | Leea aequata L. | Vietnam | Small bee |
| Tra làm chiếu | tree hibiscus | Hibiscus tiliaceus | Vietnam | megachili |
| bái lương, (cây) ké hoa dào, ké dầu ngựa |
Caesarweed | Urena lobata | Vietnam | Small bee |
| Ruri (Thua Thien-Hue), Tram lac thai. |
rose apple | Syzygium bracteolatum | Vietnam |
Megachili, small bee
|
| Dương đầu leo | Parrot Olax | Olax psittacorum | Vietnam |
Megachili, small bee
|
| Gạt nai; Săng vé; Săng ớt mốc; Tra seng |
– | Xanthophyllum glaucum | Vietnam |
Megachili small bee
|
| Táo nhám, táo rừng | zunna berry | Ziziphus rugosa | Vietnam, China, Thailand | Small bee |
| Ruột gà cánh | broadleaf buttonweed | Borreria latifolia | Vietnam, Thailand | Small bee |
| Găng trâu, còn gọi là găng tu hú | mountain pomegranate | Catunaregam spinosa | Vietnam, Talaysia, Indonesia |
Honey bees, megachili
|
| – | Roundleaf Kadamb | Mitragyna rotundifolia (Roxb.) O. Kuntze | Vietnam china |
Megachili, amegilla, small bee
|
| – | tufted grass | Rothmannia wittii (Craib) Bremek. | Vietnam | xylocopa |
| – | – | Meyna pubescens | Bangladesh; Myanmar; Vietnam |
Honey bee, small bee
|
| Nhãn dê; Xích tài; Nhãn rừng; Kén kén |
– | Lepisanthes rubiginosa | Vietnam | Small bee |
| Om geoffray | – | Limnophila geoffrayi Bonati | Vietnam | Small bee |
| hâu kén lá hẹp; Ổ kén; Tổ kén đực |
– | Helicteres angustifolia | Vietnam | Small bee |
| Lâm nhung lông | Wooly Congea, Shower Orchid |
Congea tomentosa Roxb. | Vietnam, China |
Megachili, small bee
|
| Giam; Cò ke trái có lông; Cò ke lá sếu | – | Grewia eriocarpa Juss | Vietnam |
Megachile , Chalicodoma , Nomia ,
Ceratina , Apis dorsata , Apis cerana , Amegilla , Apis fl orea , Scarabaeidae, Chrysomelidae, Tabanidae, Calliphoridae, Sphecidae, Gasteruptidae, Syrphidae, Evanidae, Scarabaeidae, Cleridae. Xylocopa |
| Bung lai; Mé; Gie la; Cò ke; Chua ke | shiral | Microcos paniculata L. | Vietnam | Small bee |
| Mật sâm; Trứng cá | Calabura, Panama berry | Muntingia calabura L. | Vietnam | Honey bee |
| Găng tía, Găng tu hú, Tu hú đông | Asiatic bushbeech-berry | Gmelina asiatica L. – | India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, SEA |
amegilla |
| Mắt cáo; Chân chim ba lá | chaste tree | Vitex tripinnata | Vietnam | Small bee |
| Bồng nga truật nam; Lưỡi cọp; Củ ngải. | Fingerroot, Chinese ginger |
Boesenbergia rotunda | Vietnam | Small bee |
| Nghệ hoa nhỏ | Theap Rum Ruk | Curcuma parviflora Wall. | Vietnam | Small bee |
| Globba, còn gọi chi Gừng vũ nữ | Dancing girl ginger, Globba lily | Globba schomburgkii | Vietnam | Amegilla |
Other bee-friendly flowers in Vietnam:
| Vietnamese name | English name | Scientifc name |
| Cây cứt lợn, cỏ hôi | Billygoat weed | Ageratum conyzoides |
| Xuyến chi | Black-jack | Bidens pilosa |
| Bồ công anh | Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale |
| Bạc hà dại | Elsholtzia | Elsholtzia cypriani |
| Ngũ sắc, Trâm ổi | Lantana | Lantana camara |
| Hoa mua | Melastoma |
Melastoma malabathricum
|
| Sen cạn | Nasturtium | Tropaeolum majus |
| Mắc cỡ, Trinh nữ | Shameplant | Mimosa pudica |
| Cây cộng sản, cỏ Lào | Siam weed | Chromolaena odorata |
| Dã quỳ | Tithonia | Tithonia diversifolia |
| Đông hầu vàng | West Indian holly | Turnera subulata |
We hope this article is useful for you and that you can soon start to plant bee-friendly flowers in Vietnam.
If you want to save this information for later, feel free to use and download the list of Bee-friendly flowers in Vietnam as Google Spreadsheet in both English and Vietnamese here.
Happy gardening!
