After the harsh winter, bees depend on food in spring. With the right plants, you can help insects find pollen and nectar. Introducing 13 bee-friendly early bloomers.
Bee-friendly early bloomers from F to M
Spring Crocus (crocus vernus)
When nature wakes up from hibernation, belong crocuses to the first plants that herald spring and at the same time bees, bumblebees and other pollinating insects provide food.
- Planting time: October to November
- Flowering time: February to early April
- Flower color: violet, yellow, white, bicolor
- location: sunny; well-drained, not too heavy soils
Spotted Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis)
The spotted lungwort is an attractive flowering and foliage perennial. Its nectar-rich flowers are falling March especially fond of long-tongued ones bumblebees and wild bees flown.
- Planting time: autumn
- Flowering time: March to May
- Flower color: violet, pink
- Location: partially shaded, warm, but protected from the sun; freshly moist, humus-rich soil
hazel (Corylus avellana)
Planted in good time, the hazelnut bush begins to bloom very early in the year. While
allergy sufferers suffer from the pollen released in the process, insects value the bee-friendly early bloomers as one of their first sources of food.- Planting time: October to November
- Flowering time: February to March
- Flower color: yellow, red
- Location: sunny to semi-shady; deep, humus-rich soil, not too dry
coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
The coltsfoot is an old medicinal plant that is used as a bank planting, in the perennial bed or Herb garden doing well. The flowers are wild perennial not only in bees and bumblebees, but also in butterflies and hoverflies popular.
- Planting time: spring
- Flowering time: February to April
- Flower color: yellow
- location: sunny; loamy, slightly moist soil
cone flower (Puschkinia scilliodes)
The often also called Pushkinia bulb flower is very robust and one of the first bee-friendly early bloomers. In parks and along roadsides, the pale blue flowers of the asparagus seen frequently.
- Planting time: September to October
- Flowering time: March to April
- Flower color: blue, white
- Location: sunny to semi-shady; humus-rich, loose clay soil
cornel (Cornusmas)
Alongside the hazel, the cornel is one of the most important early-flowering nutrient plants for bees. The flowers of this Dogwood Art provide the insects with an abundance of vital nectar and pollen for a long period of time.
- Planting time: autumn or spring
- Flowering time: March to April
- Flower color: yellow
- Location: sunny to semi-shady; dry, calcareous and nutrient-rich soils
March mug (Leucojum vernum)
The March mug often blooms earlier than its name would suggest. From February it is then visited by pollinating insects in search of food.
- Planting time: September to October
- Flowering time: February to April
- Flower color: white
- Location: shady to semi-shady; nutrient-rich soils, not too dry
From S to Z
willow (Salix caprea)
Pollen and nectar make the flowers the kitten willow an important early food source for bees, bumblebees and butterflies. Whose caterpillars also appreciate the willow as a forage plant.
- Planting time: September to November
- Flowering time: March to April
- Flower color: yellow
- location: sunny; loamy and moist acidic soils are ideal
checkered flower (Fritillaria meleagris)
The patterned flowers of checkered flower only appear briefly, but are still a real eye-catcher. In addition, they provide insects with much-needed food as early as spring.
- Planting time: September to November
- Flowering period: late March to May
- Flower color: violet, pink, white, red
- Location: sunny to semi-shady; moist, nutrient-rich soil environment
snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
The snowdrop is one of the first bee-friendly early bloomers in this country. To keep it that way, however, the bulbs must be planted in the bed in late summer or autumn.
- Planting time: September to October
- Flowering period: January to March
- Flower color: white
- Location: partially shaded, bright; humic, loose soil
grape hyacinth (muscari)
Many small bells add to the grape-shaped flowers this onion flower. The distinctive early bloomers are an important source of food for wild bees and bumblebees.
- Planting time: October to November
- Flowering time: March to May
- Flower color: various shades of blue, white, yellow
- Location: sunny, warm; loose, well-drained, slightly dry soil
winterling (Eranthis hyemalis)
The Winterling is a real herald of spring. Numerous native insect species find nectar and pollen on this bee-friendly early bloomer at the beginning of the year in order to survive.
- Planting time: September to October
- Flowering time: February to March
- Flower color: yellow
- Location: sunny to semi-shady, sheltered from the wind; loose, well-drained soil
Two-Leaf Squill (Scilla bifolia)
The squill is particularly popular with wild bees. The attractive flowers help early-flying insects replenish their depleted stores.
- Planting time: October
- Flowering time: March to April
- Flower color: blue
- Location: sunny to semi-shady; permeable, warm soil
