11 plant-me-now melliferous shrubs for pollinators
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As appealing to us as they are to pollinators, melliferous plant species are where pollinator insects reign as kings. These beautiful flowers are gorged with pollen and nectar offered up for pollinators to feed on, a trade-off that 80% of all flower-bearing species sign up for in order to reproduce.
Here is a list of 11 highly attractive melliferous shrubs and fruit trees that will appeal to pollinators.
Ornamental melliferous species
Melliferous plants are plant species that produce significant amounts of nectar and pollen which makes them appealing to pollinators. More often than not, these flowers are large or fragrant, and are thus excellent choices to decorate our gardens. They’ll do great in a flower bed, together with perennials and grasses, but are also remarkable as standalones, part of a hedge, on a balcony or in an orchard for fruit trees. Let it be said – you’ll easily find a spot for them and you’ll enjoy watching the avid bees lurch around getting drunk on pollen and nectar!
Melliferous trees
Goat willow (a type of pussy willow):
Height: 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters)
Foliage: narrow, lance-shaped deciduous pale green leaves that have a grayish underside.
Blooming: from February to April, silvery catkin inflorescence covered with fuzz opens to reveal tiny yellow flowers.
Location: as a standalone or at the back of a shrub bed.
Foliage: similar to that of the false acacia described above, except that leaflets of the Sophora tree are pointed. In Fall, leaves shift from green to yellow.
Blooming: creamy white clusters of flowers about a foot long (30 cm), extremely melliferous, in July-August.
Height: 45 to 120 feet (15 to 40m) depending on the variety.
Foliage: deciduous, roundish leaves with a pointed tip, lightly serrated around the edges. Green in Spring, turn to yellow in Autumn.
Blooming: small yellow or white cymes, very fragrant, appearing in June-July, a favored source of nectar for pollinating insects. Watch out! One species, silver lime (“silver linden” is another name), has toxic nectar: don’t choose this one!
Foliage: deciduous, serrated, bland green leaves with clearly marked veins.
Blooming: male flowers form catkins that have incredible amounts of pollen, female flowers form small clusters and have bright red stamens. Blooming from January to March
Foliage: evergreen, serrated, deep green leaves, a bit thick and shiny.
Blooming: blooms repeatedly even as fruits are forming and maturing. Flowers look a lot like those of heather. They’re either pink or white and honeybees find them very inviting.
Location: hedge, as a standalone, in a shrub bed, in large containers on a terrace or balcony.
Melliferous plants are plant species that produce significant amounts of nectar and pollen which makes them appealing to pollinators. More often than not, these flowers are large or fragrant, and are thus excellent choices to decorate our gardens. They’ll do great in a flower bed, together with perennials and grasses, but are also remarkable as standalones, part of a hedge, on a balcony or in an orchard for fruit trees. Let it be said – you’ll easily find a spot for them and you’ll enjoy watching the avid bees lurch around getting drunk on pollen and nectar!
Height: 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters)
Height: 45 feet (15 m).
Height: 60 to 75 feet (20-25 m).
Height: 45 to 120 feet (15 to 40m) depending on the variety.
Height: 6 to 30 feet (2 to 10 meters)
Height: 18 to 24 feet (6 to 8 meters)
Height: 6 to 30 feet (2 to 5 meters)
Height: 2 to 6½ feet (0.60 m to 2 m)
Height: 2 to 15 feet (0.60 m to 5 m)
Height: 3 to 15 feet (1 to 5 meters)
Height: 6 to 30 feet (2 to 10 meters)
