Coltsfoot is a low-growing perennial,probably introduced to Canada as a medicinal plant (think coltsfoot cough drops). The flowers, similar to dandelions, appear before the leaves. Coltsfoot is a plant of roadsides and gravelly wasteland. The plant’s name comes from the leaf shape. It is one of the earliest flowering plants …I’ve seen honeybees working it in March, probably for pollen. Pollen seems to be on their minds in early spring because they need protein as well as honey to raise new bees. I’ve seen them gathering bird seed dust from feeders and sawdust from woodpiles in early spring. They need pollen and they are not to choosy and will often lug home pollen look-alikes.
