04/16/2026
🌸 Not all early blooms are good for honey bees! 🐝
It’s a common misconception that any plant flowering in early spring automatically supports pollinators - but that’s not always true. Some of the earliest garden favorites are actually poor or even useless nectar and pollen sources for honey bees.
A few examples include:
• Daffodils – attractive, but produce little to no usable nectar or pollen for bees
• Double-flowered ornamentals – often bred for looks, not pollinator function, making nectar/pollen inaccessible
• Sterile hybrid varieties (like some ornamental cherry cultivars) – may bloom heavily but offer minimal forage value
• Heather look-alikes or heavily cultivated varieties – can be misleading; not all provide real forage
• Early bulb mixes marketed as “pollinator friendly” – many are selected for aesthetics, not bee nutrition
In early spring, honey bees are building strength after winter. They need reliable protein-rich pollen and accessible nectar, not just pretty blooms.
Better early-season choices include willows, maples, crocus (true single varieties), and Oregon grape—plants that actually feed the hive when it matters most.
At Silverlode Gardens, we believe choosing the right early bloomers can make a real difference for pollinator health. 🐝 🦋
🌱 Plant with intention. Support the pollinators when it matters most.
P.s. EWWW Bradford pear. 😆 🤢
