Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

A small bush that bears attractive summer foliage with creamy-white flowers appearing in mid-summer. Appears in wetlands and has high value as a honey plant.

• Mature Height: 5-15 feet
• Mature Spread: 5-15 feet
• Hardiness Zone: 5 to 10
• Soil Type: heavy clay, loamy clay, loam
• Soil Condition: wet, tolerates wet, moist, well drained
• Attracts Wildlife: songbirds, upland birds & game
• Exposure: full sun
• Usage: wetland restoration, ornamental, wildlife planting, wildlife cover
• Form: small shrub
• Growing Speed: fast, medium
• Value to bees: A dependable July honey plant

Canada Red Cherry

(Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’)

A native tree highly regarded by native bees.

• An ornamental tree grown for its attractive foliage, white spring flowers, and dark fruit.
• This tree is rarely visited by honey bees, but as beekeepers we support all pollinators, and it is a delight to see hundreds of native bees and bumble bees working it fervently.
• Blooms in May. Often planted as street trees or in the landscape in well drained soil. Very adaptable. Zone 2, Grows to 20’

Japanese Pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum)

An interesting tree for landscape use, urban forestry, and pollinator plantings because of its late-summer flowering period, when many other trees have finished blooming.

• Mature height 60 feet
• Mature spread 60 feet
• Growth rate Moderate to fast
• USDA hardiness Zones 4
• Light Full sun preferred
• Soil Well-drained soil preferred

Little Leaf Linden (Tilia cordata)

A dependable June bloomer, commonly used as a landscape or street tree. 

• Native Range: Europe, southwestern Asia
• Zone: 3 to 7
• Height: 50  to 70  feet
• Spread: 35  to 50  feet
• Bloom Time:  June
• Bloom Description: pale yellow
• Sun: full sun to part shade
• Water: medium
•  Maintenance: low
• Suggested Use: shade tree, street tree, flowering tree
• Flower: showy, fragrant
• Attracts: large numbers of native bees, bumble bees, honey bees, and butterflies.
• Fruit: showy
• Tolerate: drought

Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)

A native small tree or shrub, it is one of the most significant early-spring sources of pollen and nectar for Honey and Native bees. Together with red maples, they produce the majority of

• the early-spring resources our bees need to build up after winter.
• They prefer wet soil and are often found along the margins of wetlands. They will grow well on upland sites, too.
• Zones 2-9, plant in full sun, but this is not a good landscape plant, it is a rain-garden or marginal­ area plant.
• Willows are male or female. Male willows, the ones with the attractive pussy-toes, produce pollen and nectar, while females produce only nectar. Both are valuable to bees! We cannot say which you'll receive, so buy several!

Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

A native shrub-like tree that blooms in late April and early May.

• It prefers rich, well drained soil but is very adaptable. Grows in full sun to deep shade.
• Profuse rose-pink blossoms occur before the leaves emerge.
• Nectar provides for early spring brood rearing.
• Bumble bees and native bees find this tree very attractive.
• Plant as a landscape tree or as a naturalizing tree.

Sargent Crabapple (Malus Sargentii)

A mid to late-May blooming crabapple. Excellent as a landscape plant or accent piece, or planted as a wildlife hedge. Blooms within a year or two of planting.

• Size of mature tree: A dwarf tree, 10’ tall x 10’ wide. Easily pruned to shape.
• Growth: Medium to fast. Tolerant of most soils.
• Flowers: Red buds open to a fragrant white flower. Will remain in bloom for at least two weeks.
• Very attractive to native bees and honey bees. Flowers set bright red fruit 1/3 to 1/2 inch in diameter that remain on the tree throughout the winter or until devoured by hungry robins and cedar waxwings.
• Other info: No known serious pests or diseases. Not attractive to Japanese beetles. Our Sargent Crabapples are propagated from seed and are not grafted so they remain true to name. Na1ve to Japan but not considered invasive.

Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum)

Shrub form dogwood. Berries are a pale blue with foliage turning a deep red in fall.

• Mature Height: 6-10 feet
• Mature Spread: 6-10 feet
• Hardiness Zone: 5 to 8
• SoilType: heavy clay, loamy clay, loam, sandy loam, sandy
• Soil Condition: wet, tolerates wet, moist, well drained, tolerates dry
• Attracts Wildlife: songbirds, upland birds & game deer
• Exposure: full sun, partial shade
• Usage: wetland restoration, wildlife planting, wind break
• Form: small shrub
• Growing Speed: fast

Value to bees: this shrub form dogwood blooms in late May or early June and is extremely attractive to both native bees, butterflies, and honey bees.

Seven-Son (Heptacodium miconioides)

A small hard-to-find tree for the landscape or front yard. Recently discovered in Asia, this non­ invasive plant is now extinct in its native land due to development.

• Grows 20· tall and 15' wide.
• Blooms in the fall! It is a pollinator magnet and is heavily visited by honeybees, native bees, bumble bees and migrating Monarch butterflies!
• Fast growing and blooms after only 2 years.
• The white fragrant flowers last for weeks before revealing vivid red, fan-like bracts, which make it look like the plant is blooming again in a completely different color. Peeling bark adds winter interest.
• No serious pests or diseases and grows in zones 5-9. It is adaptable to most soils but does not bloom well in shade.