Planting the Best Trees for Ohio Bees

Dazzling with a veritable explosion of pink, white, or red blossoms in spring, these trees create a showy display that lasts for weeks while serving up rich pollen and nectar to the bees. They’re also remarkably resilient in full sun, adaptable to clay soil, and their fall fruit persists to support other wildlife, as well. Modern advances in plant breeding are increasing disease resistance in newer varieties. 

Bee-loved for their delicate white spring blooms, these trees provide an early-season nectar and pollen source for bees emerging at winter’s end. These trees also develop edible berries in summer, and vibrant orange-red foliage in autumn, plus they’re hardy to our climate, adaptable to our soils, resistant to pests, and perfect for sun to part shade.

Prized for fragrant blooms in shades of white, pink, purple, and yellow, these trees are rich in pollen, providing an essential food source in the earliest or latest part of spring, depending on the variety selected and timing of its blooms. They also display smooth bark, graceful branching, and glossy foliage for full sun to part shade gardens. 

Among the most ornamental of flowering trees, branches are covered in a profusion of soft pink or white blossoms each early spring while providing nectar for bees coming out of dormancy and eager to forage. These trees with glossy bark are also easy to care for, aside from the occasional pruning to maintain shape, requiring only full sun and well-draining soil to thrive.

Known for stunning four-petaled, star-like white flowers that appear in late spring, these trees pick up where earlier bloomers leave off, extending the availability of nectar. They also present with attractive peeling bark, red fall foliage, and ornamental fruit that persists into winter. Similar to native dogwood (Cornus florida), Korean dogwood (Cornus kousa) is highly resistant to the common dogwood tree disease anthracnose, making it a more reliable and long-lived option for Ohio gardens in full sun to part shade.

We would be remiss to leave out honorable mention of these trees, which are rather unique in that their vibrant, pea-like pink to purple flowers burst directly along the full length of branches in early spring to serve nectar and pollen that sustains native pollinators. Highly adaptable and drought-resistant in full sun to part shade, they go on to develop large, heart-shaped leaves for summer that age to yellow for fall.

Both part of the larger Aesculus family, Ohio Buckeye and Horsechestnut trees are valuable resources for bees and other pollinators. Their large, showy flower panicles bloom in spring—usually white or pale pink with splashes of yellow or red—offering an abundant supply of nectar and pollen. Easily recognizable by their bold, palmately compound leaves—each one fanning out like fingers on a hand—these large trees make a strong statement in the landscape. They’re adaptable to most soil conditions but thrive best when planted in full sun to part shade with evenly moist, well-drained soil.

Among the first to bloom in early spring, willow trees (Salix spp.) are an important, early-season source of pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinators. Native species like pussy willow (Salix discolor) and black willow (Salix nigra) are especially valuable here in Northeast Ohio, supporting a wide range of native bees, honeybees, and other pollinators. Their fuzzy catkins may be subtle, but they are powerhouses of early-season nutrition, helping fuel the start of foraging season. Plant in full sun to part shade and enjoy their unique blooms, graceful form, and pleasing foliage.