Abstract In order to understand the growth and flowering, morphological characteristics and nectar - sucking behavior of wild Apis cerana japonica, eight taxa of Echium plants representing species of Macaronesia and Europe, cultivar and hybrid were investigated. E. candicans, E. hybrid （E.wildpretii × E.pininana）, E.pininana, E.pininana ʻSnow Towerʼ, E.plantagineum, E.russicum, E.vulgare ʻPink Bedderʼ and E.wildpretii were used as plants materials. The plant height of simple-stemmed biennials, E. hybrid, E.pininana, E.pininana ʻSnow Towerʼ and E.wildpretii were about or over 200 cm. All individuals of E.candicans, E.pininana ʻSnow Towerʼ, E.plantagineum and E.vulgare ʻPink Bedderʼ flowered until the end of April. These were large tendency of the corolla and mericarp in E.plantagineum and E.vulgare ʻPink Bedderʼ which are annual or biennial of European origin. We found that the nectar - sucking behavior of Apis cerana japonica was significantly more frequent in E.wildpretii,E. hybrid and E.pininanaʻSnow Towerʼthan in other five Echium Plant（P＜0.01）.E. hybrid which has ornamental value may be promising in beekeeping as a honey source plant for Apis cerana japonica..
