Bob Young wrote:

>  Many of these varieties bloom most
> of the year and others are seasonally specific; it would be possible to
> have blooms in each season if a mix of species were planted! I would be
> interested to hear from experience.

Sorry this is not country specific, but e. is also an introduced species here.
We have a  Mediterranean climate with frosty areas more inland. Most species do
well. Soil, altitude  and climate play a major role in their nectar production
though. We have identified approx. 35 types here, and with those are able to
provide a good nectar flow for more than 9 months. We are cultivating those
that flower prodigiously, that flower early or late, or ones that bees really
go for with the idea of expanding the nectar sources at our sites.

Yes, e. ficefolia is a good sidewalk grower, but so are e. sideroxilon, e.
melliodora e. camaldulenses and a number of others: there are horticultural
books aplenty that list the ornamentals.

The honey of e. melliodora (yellow box) is some of the best in the world. E.
ficefolia has a problem though: it does not produce a table honey. Oh, the
flavour and taste are delicious, but it is stringy and (excuse the term) snotty
- it has an unpleasant mouth feel is the correct term. Good pollen though and
lovely for the bees to draw comb on. And beautiful to see.

Robert Post