Ohio Trees for Bees | Ohioline

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OHIO TREES FOR BEES

Denise Ellsworth, Department of Entomology

Many people are concerned about the health and survival of bees, including honey bees, native bumble bees and the hundreds of lesser-known native and wild bees that call Ohio home. Bees are threatened by an assortment of factors such as pests, pathogens, pesticides, climate change and a lack of nesting habitat and forage plants. ENT-71 Bees and flowering plants have a critical relationship. Flowering plants provide nectar and pollen for a bee’s diet. Pollen is an essential Agriculture and Natural source of protein for developing bee larvae, and nectar provides a carbohydrate source. Honey bees convert nectar into honey by Resources adding an enzyme which breaks down the complex sugars into simple sugars. Bees, in turn, transport pollen from flower to flower as Date: Oct 26, 2015 they forage, allowing for plant fertilization and the production of seeds and fruit.

To print a fact sheet, use the While trees provide many well-known ecological benefits, the importance of trees as a source of food for bees is sometimes "Print" command in your overlooked. Ohio trees can provide food for bees from early spring through late summer, with most tree species in Ohio blooming in browser. You may then either spring and early summer. This fact sheet describes some of the Ohio trees that provide food for bees. Trees included in this list have print the fact sheet or save it as been described as important by multiple researchers and bee experts. a PDF. Best printed in Google Chrome. Other trees not listed here can also provide food for bees. For example, Ohio horticultural experts have noted significant bee foraging activity on trees such as Carolina silverbell (Halesia carolina), seven-son flower (Heptacodium miconioides), goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) and Japanese pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum) in landscape settings. CFAES Publications

Consider selecting from this list of trees when choosing species to plant in urban, landscape and rural settings. Chowline

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http://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-71[7/14/2017 11:19:58 AM] Ohio Trees for Bees | Ohioline

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Family Fundamentals Native (Na) Latin Name Pollen/ Season of and/or About This Tree Common Name Nectar Bloom Intro- SOCIAL MEDIA duced OSUE YouTube Silver and red maples provide important early season sources of Acer spp. ESP, 1 PN Na,I nectar and pollen for overwintering Maple, Boxelder SP bees, particularly during warm springs when bees are flying.

Aesculus spp. 2 Buckeye, PN Na,I SP Also visited by hummingbirds. Horsechestnut

Wind-pollinated but visited by bees Alnus spp. 3 P Na,I ESP for pollen in early spring if weather is Alder favorable.

Amelanchier spp. ESP, Several species native to North 4 PN Na Serviceberry SP America.

Visited by bees during the day and by Catalpa spp. SP, 5 PN Na moths at night. Extrafloral nectaries Catalpa ESU on leaves.

Celtis occidentalis Flowers in spring while leaves are 6 Common PN Na SP emerging. Hackberry

Cercis canadensis 7 PN Na SP Attractive to an assortment of bees. Red Bud

http://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-71[7/14/2017 11:19:58 AM] Ohio Trees for Bees | Ohioline

Cladrastis lutea Attractive nectar source but inconsistent 8 N Na ESU Yellow Wood bloom from year to year.

Cornus mas An introduced ornamental tree with 9 Corneliancherry PN I ESP early-season flowers. dogwood

Corylus americana Wind-pollinated but visited by bees for 10 P Na ESP Hazelnut pollen.

Crataegus spp. 11 PN Na SP Many species, with wide appeal to bees. Hawthorn

Diospyros virginiana 12 N Na SU Nectar flow may be brief. Persimmon

Fraxinus spp. Wind-pollinated but visited by bees for 13 P Na SP Ash pollen.

Gleditsia triacanthos 14 PN Na SP Brief nectar flow. Honey Locust

Lirodendron 15 tulipifera PN Na SP Rich nectar source. Tulip Poplar

Magnolia spp. ESP, Many ornamental selections offer a 16 P Na,I Magnolia SP minor pollen source in spring.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-71[7/14/2017 11:19:58 AM] Ohio Trees for Bees | Ohioline

Malus spp. Important spring nectar and pollen 17 PN Na,I SP Apple, crab apple source.

Nyssa sylvatica Dioecious (separate male and female 18 N Na SP Black gum plants), good nectar source.

Oxydendrum Best grown in moist acidic soils. Not 19 arboreum N Na SU tolerant of urban conditions. Sourwood

Prunus spp. (cultivated) ESP, Important spring nectar and pollen 20 Cherry, Plum, PN I SP source. Peach, Apricot, cultivated

Prunus spp. (native) Many native Prunus species are ESP, 21 Wild Cherry (P. PN Na important, such as P. virginiana, P. SP serotina) and pensylvanica and P. americana. others

Ptelea trifoliata 22 N Na ESU Visited by many bees for nectar. Hop tree

Pyrus communis 23 PN I SP Abundant pollen producer. Pear

Quercus spp. Wind-pollinated but also visited by bees 24 P Na,I SP Oak for pollen.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-71[7/14/2017 11:19:58 AM] Ohio Trees for Bees | Ohioline

Robinia Rich nectar source but variable from 25 pseudoacacia PN Na ESU year to year. Black Locust

Important early-season source of nectar Salix spp. and pollen, including Salix discolor 26 PN Na,I ESP Willow (pussy willow) and Salix nigra (black willow).

Sassafras albidum Dioecious (separate male and female 27 PN Na SP Sassafras plants).

Tilia spp. 28 PN Na,I SU Rich nectar source. Basswood, Linden

Ulmus americana Wind-pollinated but visited by bees for 29 P Na SP Elm pollen.

When more than one species of the same genus is useful, the genus name is followed by “spp.” ESP: Early Spring SP: Spring ESU: Early Summer SU: Summer Photo credits: Denise Ellsworth: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 15, 16, 17, 20, 23, 26, 28; David Stephens: 3; Robert Vidéki: 6, 14, 25; T. Davis Sydnor, 8, 11, 12, 13; Vern Wilkins: 10, 21; Charles T. Bryson: 18; Wendy VanDyk Evans: 19; Richard Carter, 22; Paul Wray, 24, 29; R. Scott Cameron: 27

Topics: Home, Yard and Garden, Horticulture, Insects and Pests Tags: bees, pollinators, trees Program Area(s): Entomology

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