CORVALLIS, Ore. — During the bleak days of winter, bees and other pollinators depend on gardeners for the nourishment that keeps them going until spring and summer bring an abundance of blooms.
“Even a small amount of habitat will sustain bees, even rare species. Well-thought-out landscapes can provide all the food they need in winter.”
“Black-tailed bumble bees are out as early as January,” said Andony Melathopoulos, Oregon State University Extension Service pollinator specialist and assistant professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences. “Native bees are just starting and will be seen more often later in February when the wild willow starts blooming.”
While some plants in the wild flower in winter, many pollinators don’t live near them. Cultivated winter bloomers can bridge the gap and provide essential nectar and pollen.
“Even a small amount of habitat will sustain bees, even rare species,” Melathopoulos said. “These are tiny creatures. Well-thought-out landscapes can provide all the food they need in winter. Gardeners can really help with that.”
Though winter offers fewer options, the plants that do flower add both brightness to the garden and sustenance for pollinators.
Recommended winter-blooming plants for pollinators
Hazelnut (Corylus spp.)
Among the earliest pollen sources for bees, hazelnuts include popular contorted and weeping forms.
Oregon grape (Mahonia spp.)
Designated Oregon’s state flower, this evergreen shrub produces bright yellow flowers that can last for weeks and are highly attractive to pollinators.
Heath and heather (Erica spp. and Calluna spp.)
These low-growing, mat-forming plants bloom in shades from purple to copper to gold, with flowers that draw bees throughout the year, including winter.
Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
A vining shrub with bright yellow winter flowers. Though not fragrant like other jasmines, its blooms are a welcome sight in cold months.
Witch hazel (Hamamelis spp.)
Known for its crinkled, paper-like petals in yellow, orange or red, witch hazel provides winter nectar that bees eagerly seek out.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Periwinkle-colored flowers appear throughout winter, with especially abundant blooms in late winter when bees and hummingbirds are preparing for spring.
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.)
Native to the western United States, manzanitas range from treelike shrubs to ground covers. Their white flowers attract bumble bees and hummingbirds.
Chaparral currant (Ribes malvaceum)
A California native that blooms from late December through the end of winter, providing nectar for bees during the season’s lean months.
For more plant ideas, refer to the Oregon State University Extension publication Trees and shrubs for fall and winter bloom.
Previously titled Seven winter-blooming plants to nourish bees
