Flowering trees and shrubs are a great draw for many rare bee species in the UK. You may feel a little intimidated by the idea of planting trees or large shrubs introducing these plants into your garden needn’t be labour intensive.
Choose fledgeling plants and plan when you to plant them. You’ll want to avoid planting in winter and consider when they will flower.
Here are a few ideas for your garden.
Name: Apple or Crabapple Tree
When to plant: Autumn (from seeds)
When they flower: Spring
Popular with: Mason Bees, Mining Bees
Name: Hawthorn
When to plant: Autumn (from seeds)
When they flower: Summer
Popular with: Mason Bees, Mining Bees
Name: Honeysuckle
When to plant: Late Spring to summer (from softwood cutting)
When they flower: Autumn
Popular with: Bumblebees
Name: Ivy
When to plant: Autumn or Spring (from vines)
When they flower: Winter
Popular with: Honeybees, Bumblebees
Name: Mahonia
When to plant: Spring, summer, autumn
When they flower: Winter
Popular with: Honeybees, Bumblebees
Name: Goat Willow
When to plant: Autumn (from cuttings)
When they flower: Spring
Popular with: Mining Bees, Bumblebees