Trees and Shrubs

Trees and Shrubs for honeybees

Planting for honeybees and native bees is important. What most people don’t know is that trees and shrubs will supply most of the pollen and nectar bees need early in the year. Here in Maryland, Black Locust and Tulip poplar are the best and supply most of the nectar for making honey. Other trees like Maples provide early nectar for raising brood at the beginning of the season. Planting a mixture is important for all stages.

Below is a list of some of the best trees for the greater Baltimore area, consider these if you are planting trees and shrubs.

For Blooming in February, March and April:

Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Alder (Alnus glutinosa)

Ornamental Cherry (Prunus var.)

Pussy Willow (Salix discolora)

Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia aquifolium)

For Blooming in May, June, July: (Honey flow)

Crab Apple (Malus floribunda)

Redbud/Judas tree ( Cercis canandensis)

Serviceberry (Amalenchier canandensis)

American Holly (Ilex opaca)

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)

Honeysuckle shrub (Lonicera tatarica)

Little leaf Linden (Tilia cordata)

BeeBee Tree (Evodia daniellii)

Golden Rain (Koelreuteria paniculata)

For Blooming in August, September:

Longwood Blue or Blue beard (Caryopteris x Clandonensis) shrub

Japanese Pagoda tree (Saphora Japonica)

Sumac many varieties ( Rhus copillina )

These are just a partial listing, observe and note which ones your bees will frequent. A mixture of plantings helps the bees gather pollen and nectar to produce bee bread to feed the bees. Never spray these plants with any insecticides, fungicides or herbicides as the bees will collect and take back to the hive. Insecticides kill the bees, fungicides interfere with pollen and herbicides will kill the very plants the bees feed on.. Remember a weed is in the eye of the beholder, bees love weeds!