11 melliferous plants: trees, fruit trees and shrubs

Updated on 22 September 2026Published on 4 June 2021

As appealing to us as they are to pollinators, melliferous plant species are where pollinator insects reign as kings. These beautiful flowers are gorged with pollen and nectar offered up for pollinators to feed on, a trade-off that 80% of all flower-bearing species sign up for in order to reproduce.

Here is a list of 11 highly attractive melliferous shrubs and fruit trees that will appeal to pollinators.

Ornamental melliferous species

Melliferous plants, shrubs and trees that feed pollinators — Large or fragrant flowers: good for gardens too

Melliferous plants are plant species that produce significant amounts of nectar and pollen which makes them appealing to pollinators. More often than not, these flowers are large or fragrant, and are thus excellent choices to decorate our gardens. They’ll do great in a flower bed, together with perennials and grasses, but are also remarkable as standalones, part of a hedge, on a balcony or in an orchard for fruit trees. Let it be said – you’ll easily find a spot for them and you’ll enjoy watching the avid bees lurch around getting drunk on pollen and nectar!

Which melliferous plant flowers when: a quick comparison

The value of a melliferous plant to pollinators depends as much on when it opens as on how much nectar it holds. Here are nine of the trees, fruit trees and shrubs described below, set side by side by size and flowering season.

Which melliferous plant flowers when: a quick comparison
Plant	Type	Height	Flowering season
Hazel	Fruit tree / shrub	6 to 30 feet (2 to 5 m)	Midwinter to early spring
Goat willow	Tree	6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 m)	Late winter to mid-spring
Almond tree	Fruit tree	18 to 24 feet (6 to 8 m)	Late winter to early spring
Ornamental cherry (Prunus cerasifera)	Tree	6 to 30 feet (2 to 10 m)	Early spring
Raspberry	Fruit bush	2 to 6½ feet (0.60 to 2 m)	Mid to late spring, again midsummer to late summer
Lime tree	Tree	45 to 120 feet (15 to 40 m)	Early to midsummer
Japanese pagoda tree	Tree	60 to 75 feet (20-25 m)	Midsummer to late summer
Mahonia	Evergreen shrub	2 to 15 feet (0.60 to 5 m)	Mid-autumn to late spring
Laurestine	Evergreen shrub	3 to 15 feet (1 to 5 m)	Late autumn to mid-spring

Combining a few of these means nectar and pollen are on offer almost right around the year.

Melliferous trees

Goat willow (a type of pussy willow):

Willow is one early melliferous tree — Fuzzy catkins open to reveal tiny yellow flowers

Height: 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters)
Foliage: narrow, lance-shaped deciduous pale green leaves that have a grayish underside.
Blooming: from February to April, silvery catkin inflorescence covered with fuzz opens to reveal tiny yellow flowers.
Location: as a standalone or at the back of a shrub bed.
Learn more about the willow tree

Black locust tree or false acacia:

Melliferous and full of nectar is the black locust tree — Fragrant white clusters whose nectar draws bees in

Height: 45 feet (15 m).
Foliage: deciduous leaves, each having about fifteen individual oval leaflets that are a tender green color.
Flowering: Great flowering clusters of fragrant white flowers, the nectar of which attracts bees and other pollinators.
Location: as a standalone, paired with other small trees, in large garden boxes on a terrace or balcony.
Learn more about black locust

Japanese pagoda tree:

Two pagoda tree flowers for pollinators — Foot-long creamy clusters, extremely melliferous in midsummer

Height: 60 to 75 feet (20-25 m).
Foliage: similar to that of the false acacia described above, except that leaflets of the Sophora tree are pointed. In Fall, leaves shift from green to yellow.
Blooming: creamy white clusters of flowers about a foot long (30 cm), extremely melliferous, in July-August.
Location: standalone, in a shrub bed.
Learn more about the Japanese pagoda tree

Lime tree:

Linden provides massive amounts of nectar for honey — A favoured nectar source for pollinating insects

Height: 45 to 120 feet (15 to 40m) depending on the variety.
Foliage: deciduous, roundish leaves with a pointed tip, lightly serrated around the edges. Green in Spring, turn to yellow in Autumn.
Blooming: small yellow or white cymes, very fragrant, appearing in June-July, a favored source of nectar for pollinating insects. Watch out! One species, silver lime (“silver linden” is another name), has toxic nectar: don’t choose this one!
Location: standalone, in a row or alignment.
Learn more about lime tree (or basswood)

Prunus cerasifera (ornamental cherry tree):

Prunus, the ornamental cherry tree, greets a wild bumblebee — Early spring flowers give both nectar and pollen

Height: 6 to 30 feet (2 to 10 meters)
Foliage: deciduous, oval and finely serrated leaves that are a shiny green.
Blooming: pink or white flowers at the beginning of Spring that offer both nectar and pollen as soon as the weather improves.
Location: standalone, in an orchard or shrub bed.
Learn more about prunus, the ornamental cherry tree

Melliferous fruit trees

Almond tree:

Height: 18 to 24 feet (6 to 8 meters)
Foliage: deciduous leaves that are bright green, elongated with a pointy tip, placed on alternate sides of the branch.
Blooming: early flowers that appear in February-March in abundant numbers, white or pink. Also exists as ornamental almond tree, with little fruiting.
Location: as a standalone, in an orchard, in large containers on a terrace or balcony.
Learn more about the almond tree

Hazel:

Height: 6 to 30 feet (2 to 5 meters)
Foliage: deciduous, serrated, bland green leaves with clearly marked veins.
Blooming: male flowers form catkins that have incredible amounts of pollen, female flowers form small clusters and have bright red stamens. Blooming from January to March
Location: standalone, hedge, orchard.
Learn more about the hazelnut tree

Raspberry:

Height: 2 to 6½ feet (0.60 m to 2 m)
Foliage: composite leaf with 5 to 7 tooth-edged leaves, with visible veining. Light green on the topside, nearly white on the underside.
Blooming: small clusters of white flowers in April-May and again in July-August, very appealing for pollinators.
Location: mixed hedge, orchard, back of a flower bed, standalone.
Learn more about raspberry bushes

Melliferous shrubs

Mahonia:

Height: 2 to 15 feet (0.60 m to 5 m)
Foliage: alternate leaves, spiky and thick, similar to those of holly. Also evergreen.
Flowering: bright yellow flower clusters that welcome pollinators from October to May. Fragrance is similar to that of the lily-of-the-nile.
Location: hedge, backdrop in a flower bed, standalone, in large garden boxes on a terrace or balcony.
Learn more about the mahonia shrub

Laurestine:

Viburnum tinus flowers are more discreet but pollinators love them — Modest white blooms, a very early food source

Height: 3 to 15 feet (1 to 5 meters)
Foliage: evergreen oblong deep green leaves, shiny-leathery on the topside.
Blooming: small, white but bland blooming from November to April. A very early source of food for pollinator insects.
Location: hedge, standalone, backdrop in flower beds, in garden boxes on a terrace or balcony.
Learn more about laurestine

Strawberry tree:

Height: 6 to 30 feet (2 to 10 meters)
Foliage: evergreen, serrated, deep green leaves, a bit thick and shiny.
Blooming: blooms repeatedly even as fruits are forming and maturing. Flowers look a lot like those of heather. They’re either pink or white and honeybees find them very inviting.
Location: hedge, as a standalone, in a shrub bed, in large containers on a terrace or balcony.
Learn more about the strawberry tree

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a plant melliferous?

A melliferous plant is one that produces significant amounts of nectar and pollen, which is what makes it so appealing to pollinating insects. The plant gives up food in exchange for being pollinated, a trade-off that 80% of all flower-bearing species sign up for in order to reproduce. Handily for gardeners, these flowers are more often than not large or fragrant, so they decorate the garden as well as feeding bees.

Which shrubs feed pollinators in winter?

Two evergreen shrubs carry the cold months. Mahonia opens bright yellow flower clusters that welcome pollinators from mid-autumn right through to late spring, with a scent like lily-of-the-nile. Laurestine flowers small and white from late autumn to mid-spring and is a very early source of food for pollinator insects; hazel then takes over, its catkins loaded with pollen from midwinter.

Is every lime tree good for bees?

Almost. The small yellow or white cymes of the lime are very fragrant and a favoured source of nectar for pollinating insects in early to midsummer. But one species, the silver lime — also sold as silver linden — has toxic nectar, so it is the one to avoid when you are planting for pollinators.

Can I grow melliferous plants on a balcony or terrace?

Yes — several of these will cope with a large pot. The almond tree, black locust, mahonia, laurestine and strawberry tree are all listed as suitable for large containers or garden boxes on a terrace or balcony. Elsewhere in the garden they work in a flower bed with perennials and grasses, as standalones, in a hedge or in an orchard.

Images: 123RF: byrdyak; own work:

Rosalyn & Gaspard Lorthiois; Pixabay: Laura Kuhn

Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.

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