The Best Trees for Bees and Pollinators

Short On Time? Read Our Summary

The best trees for bees and pollinators provide nectar and pollen across a long flowering season. By choosing trees that bloom at different times of year, you can support pollinators from late winter through to autumn.

Excellent choices include:

• Goat willow for early spring pollen
• Crab apple for spring blossom
• Hawthorn for native wildlife
• Wild cherry for spring nectar
• Rowan for smaller gardens
• Lime for early summer forage
• Strawberry tree for late-season flowers

Even a single flowering tree can provide valuable food and habitat for bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.

What Are The Best Trees for Bees?

Bees and other pollinators play a vital role in our gardens and wider countryside. They help pollinate flowers, fruit and vegetables, supporting biodiversity and food production alike.

When creating a pollinator-friendly garden, many people think first of herbaceous plants and wildflowers. But trees can be just as valuable.

A mature flowering tree can produce thousands of blooms, providing a rich source of nectar and pollen at times when other plants may not be flowering.

By choosing the right trees, you can create a garden that supports wildlife throughout the year while adding beauty, structure and seasonal interest.

Why Trees Matter for Pollinators

Trees do much more than provide shade and shelter.

Flowering trees offer:

• Nectar for adult pollinators
• Pollen as a protein source for bees
• Shelter from wind and rain
• Habitat for birds and beneficial insects

Many trees flower before herbaceous plants emerge in spring, making them especially important for bees coming out of winter dormancy.

Planting pollinator-friendly trees is one of the simplest ways to increase biodiversity in your garden.

Goat Willow (Pussy Willow)

Goat willow, often known as pussy willow, is one of the most valuable trees for early pollinators.

Its soft catkins appear in late winter and early spring, providing pollen when few other food sources are available.

This makes it particularly important for queen bumblebees emerging from hibernation.

What makes goat willow special?

• Early flowering season
• Excellent pollen source
• Native to the UK
• Valuable for wildlife

Goat willow is ideal for larger gardens or wildlife areas where space allows.

Crab Apple

Crab apples are among the best all-round trees for pollinators and gardeners alike.

Their spring blossom attracts bees in large numbers, while many varieties also produce colourful fruit that birds enjoy in autumn and winter.

Crab apples are often compact enough for smaller gardens, making them a practical choice for many homes.

We love crab apple trees because:

• Masses of spring blossom
• Suitable for small gardens
• Fruit for birds and wildlife
• Attractive autumn interest

For many gardeners, crab apple is one of the very best trees for supporting pollinators.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn is a classic native British tree with enormous wildlife value.

Its spring flowers provide nectar and pollen for insects, while its autumn berries support birds and small mammals.

Hawthorn also works well as part of mixed native hedging schemes.

Benefits include:

• Native species
• Excellent for pollinators
• Wildlife-friendly berries
• Suitable for hedges and gardens

Its adaptability and ecological value make hawthorn one of the most beneficial trees you can plant.

Wild Cherry

Cherry blossom is not only beautiful to look at, but highly attractive to bees.

When choosing cherries for pollinators, single or semi-double flowers are usually best because bees can access nectar more easily.

Highly double flowers may be attractive visually but can be harder for insects to use.

Why choose wild cherry trees?

• Stunning spring blossom
• Valuable nectar source
• Attractive ornamental feature
• Seasonal interest

Wild cherry and many ornamental cherries provide an excellent food source during spring.

Rowan

Rowan, also known as mountain ash, is a fantastic tree for smaller gardens.

Its clusters of spring flowers attract pollinators, while its bright berries provide food for birds later in the year.

Rowan combines ornamental value with excellent wildlife benefits.

Benefits of rowans include:

• Pollinator-friendly flowers
• Autumn berries for birds
• Compact size
• Attractive foliage and seasonal interest

Its manageable size makes rowan particularly useful in urban and suburban gardens.

Lime Trees

Lime trees are famous for attracting bees.

In early summer, their flowers produce abundant nectar and can become a hive of activity for pollinating insects.

Some lime species can grow quite large, making them more suitable for bigger gardens or parks.

Why we love lime trees:

• Rich nectar source
• Early summer flowering
• Highly attractive to bees
• Long-lived and majestic

If space allows, lime trees can make an outstanding addition to wildlife-friendly landscapes.

Strawberry Tree

The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) offers something unusual.

Unlike many trees, it flowers during autumn when nectar sources are becoming scarce.

This late-season flowering helps support pollinators at a time when food is often limited.

Why go for strawberry trees?

• Autumn flowers
• Evergreen foliage
• Ornamental fruit
• Valuable late nectar source

It is particularly useful for extending the pollinator season.

Heptacodium

Heptacodium, sometimes called the seven-son flower, is becoming increasingly popular among gardeners.

Its fragrant white flowers appear in late summer and autumn, attracting bees when many other plants have finished flowering.

Benefits include:

• Late flowering season
• Attractive scent
• Valuable for pollinators
• Beautiful ornamental interest

For gardeners wanting to support wildlife into autumn, Heptacodium is an excellent choice.

Trees for Bees Throughout the Year

One of the best ways to help pollinators is to provide flowers across multiple seasons.

Late Winter to Early Spring

• Goat willow
• Hazel
• Early flowering cherries

These support bees emerging from winter dormancy.

Spring

• Crab apple
• Hawthorn
• Rowan
• Wild cherry

Spring is often the busiest season for pollinators.

Early Summer

• Lime
• Horse chestnut
  

These provide abundant nectar during peak activity.

Late Summer to Autumn

• Strawberry tree
• Heptacodium
• Evodia

Late-season flowers help sustain pollinators as food sources decline.

Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

You do not need a large garden to make a difference.

For many UK gardens, a combination of trees can provide food throughout the year:

• Early season: Goat willow
• Spring: Crab apple or rowan
• Autumn: Strawberry tree

This staggered approach creates a longer flowering period and supports a wider range of insects.

Where possible, choose single-flowered varieties, as these tend to offer better access to nectar and pollen.

It is also important to select trees suited to your soil type, available space and growing conditions.

Final Thoughts from Mail Order Trees

Planting flowering trees is a great choice to support pollinators.

Trees provide nectar, pollen, shelter and habitat while bringing beauty and structure to the garden.

Whether you have space for a single crab apple or several wildlife-friendly trees, your garden can become an important resource for bees and other insects

Frequently Asked Questions

Which tree is best for bees in the UK?

Goat willow is often considered one of the best trees for bees because it flowers very early in the year when food sources are limited.

Are ornamental cherries good for pollinators?

Yes. Single or semi-double flowering cherries are usually best because bees can access nectar more easily.

What trees flower earliest for bees?

Goat willow, hazel and some early flowering cherries provide valuable early-season pollen.

Do bees prefer native trees?

Native trees such as hawthorn and willow are highly beneficial, but many non-native ornamental trees also provide excellent nectar and pollen.

Can small gardens still support pollinators?

Absolutely. Trees such as crab apple and rowan are compact enough for many gardens while still offering significant wildlife value.