I have been told that Sourwood will only produce enough nectar for honey at
"high" elevations.  Thus, those in Knoxville, TN that want sourwood honey
move their bees to some mountainous region (usually the Cumberland Plateau,
about 45 miles away) around July 1.  Having driven through that area for
several hours yesterday, I did see "some" sourwood (ok, maybe 6 total, all
of which had started blooming, so it is early this year) and quite a bit of
sumac (hundreds, also, just started blooming, but a lot of it in bud).
Standing on my back porch, however, I an nearly touch 3 sourwood trees, all
starting to bloom or send out blooms, that were randomly left when we cut
trees to build several years ago (when we had no bees and paid little
attention to saving any in particular).

I am at the north edge of Knox County, at 1330 ft elevation (atop a ridge
line) and imagine that there are probably more sourwood that my three in the
undeveloped and unlogged forests covering this ridge and the next one (which
extend much beyond the bees range). This area is well inside the native
range and the tree mix is textbook for companion trees (tulip poplar, maple,
dogwood, redbud, oaks, sassafras, wild cherry, black walnut, hickory and
other hardwoods).  I have noticed that my honey never seems to crystalize (a
sample from 4 years ago, at room temp, kept for its darker color still has
not) and that my bees keep working for about 3 weeks after others in Knox
county tell me "everything is over" (which also happens to be when sourwood
is in bloom).  I can also see a few bees in the tree tops, "checking out"
the blooms, but do not know if they are finding anything yet, as very few of
the blooms have opened.  I have no intention of labeling my honey as
anything other than "wildflower" (although tulip poplar is usually a
dominant component), but have a question:

Is there any documented "proof" that sourwood at this elevation does not
produce nectar (enough for some honey crop)?

If so, what is the minimum elevation needed?

Karen

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