Early bloomers – the spring buffet for bees and friends

When the first rays of sunshine warm the air and nature begins to bloom, not only do we enjoy the many blossoming flowers, but the beneficial insects in the garden have also been looking forward to the fresh nectar all winter long.

Especially after winter, beneficial insects like bees need the help of gardeners. Because not everywhere that has color also has nectar. Many early bloomers attract with beautiful flowers but unfortunately don’t provide any food for the beneficial insects. But there are plenty of early bloomers that do.

When temperatures start to rise again, bees, bumblebees, and other insects emerge from their hiding places and search the garden for food to regain their strength. Many gardeners already plant bee-friendly plants, and many garden centers offer special seed mixes for this purpose—but a lot of these plants don’t bloom until summer. Yet it's especially in spring that beneficial insects need a fresh energy boost to kick off the new gardening year. That’s why it makes sense not to focus solely on summer flowers when planting for pollinators, but to also include early bloomers in your garden plan. Only then can bees and friends start snacking as soon as they leave their winter quarters. And finding early bloomers that support beneficial insects isn’t difficult at all.

Once you've delved into the topic of bee-friendly plants, you’ll realize that many of the pretty plants only look good but unfortunately don’t provide food for the beneficial insects in the garden. While they may be pleasing to the eye, they don’t help bees and other pollinators. Fortunately, there are plenty of early-blooming shrubs whose flowers provide plenty of food for bees, bumblebees, and other beneficial insects. These include willows, hazel, hornbeam, broom, alder, serviceberry, maple, red currant, dogwood, and mahonia. And the best part about these early-blooming shrubs is that they also look really beautiful. So, you can't go wrong with these early bloomers. On the contrary: for the beneficial insects in the garden, these early bloomers offer that extra portion of treats in spring to help keep our garden healthy and thriving. After all, one hand washes the other wing, right?

It’s nationally renowned and heralds the arrival of spring: the forsythia. When it blooms, warm temperatures are not far behind, and nature begins to bloom again. But as beautiful as the forsythia's flowers are and as tempting as they may look, they are usually a bit of a letdown, as bees, butterflies, and bumblebees can't make use of them. If the forsythia contains nectar, it's so deeply embedded in the flower's cup that it’s impossible for most beneficial insects to reach it. Forsythia hybrids don't even produce nectar or pollen. The same goes for the most popular ornamental shrub. Even though its flowers are tempting and beautiful, the rhododendron is a real trap for beneficial insects. Rhododendrons are often infested with pests that can harm pollinators. However, if you don’t want to give up the lovely blooms, make sure to provide enough alternatives in the immediate area. In general, native plants are a blessing for bees and other pollinators. Plants with double flowers are usually not a good idea. Planting native treats for beneficial insects (preferably in spring) not only preserves biodiversity but also benefits the pollinators.