On the one volunteer Datura wrightii I've allowed to grow in my garden I've noticed the native carpenter bees are now being outcompeted for pollen in its flowers by domestic honeybees. Since it's a beautiful but poisonous plant, I don't want to be a possible source of tainted honey, so I'll remove it soon.

24 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

On the one volunteer Datura wrightii I've allowed to grow in my garden I've noticed the native carpenter bees are now being outcompeted for pollen in its flowers by domestic honeybees. Since it's a beautiful but poisonous plant, I don't want to be a possible source of tainted honey, so I'll remove it soon.

Though they may briefly get " drunk " after sipping it, don't think the nectar is toxic to honeybees ( They're more of a threat than the plant, btw. )

Main pollinators for these and other white flowering things that flower at night are the various sps of " Sphinx " Months.

Great summary, as it refers to any effect these have on honey production, here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Beekeeping/comments/1lb9bjt/will_sacred_datura_pollen_affect_safety_of_honey/

8 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Though they may briefly get " drunk " after sipping it, don't think the nectar is toxic to honeybees ( They're more of a threat than the plant, btw. )

Main pollinators for these and other white flowering things that flower at night are the various sps of " Sphinx " Months.

Great summary, as it refers to any effect these have on honey production, here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Beekeeping/comments/1lb9bjt/will_sacred_datura_pollen_affect_safety_of_honey/

Thanks for the link and the info! I really like the plant, so if it's minimal risk to local honey production, I'll let it resprout each year! 😉 Not seen any moths this year in the evening, unfortunately.

1 hour ago, Hillizard said:

Thanks for the link and the info! I really like the plant, so if it's minimal risk to local honey production, I'll let it resprout each year! 😉 Not seen any moths this year in the evening, unfortunately.

What i've noticed, here at least, as it relates to the Sphinx moth activity, They were most active in April / May, when my bigger plant was flowering. See only a few darting around / between streetlights this time of year. Once the rains start, esp. if things turn really wet / temps. become less hostile, i'll start seeing more again, esp. if the rain is enough to trigger another big flowering cycle.

2: Bigger the plant = lots of attention from the moths. Since i did get seed off of them, while i'm sure the smaller plants at the old house were visited, hard to miss them zipping between the flowers on the big specimen here when at peak bloom this year. Ton of seed produced on it this year afterwards too.