Track this against your own hives - free, on the web and the App Store.
Where this comes from. Why early pollen matters is the National Bee Unit’s. Which plants, and when and how to plant them, is the Royal Horticultural Society’s, from its Plants for Pollinators list and its planting advice. Sources at the foot of the page.
Why plant now
Many of the plants that flower in late winter and early spring are planted now: bulbs in autumn, and bare-root trees and shrubs while they are dormant. 2 3 Early sources of pollen are essential for a colony’s development, which is why the National Bee Unit advises putting hives where they are available. 5 The best guarantee of enough pollen is a plentiful and varied supply of pollen plants within flying range of the apiary, through the season. 4
Planting helps more than honey bees. Planting flowers and looking after flower-rich habitats gives forage to many kinds of pollinator, and where forage is short, honey bees and wild pollinators can end up competing for it. 7
What the bees are on in late winter
In February, bees bring pollen home on mild days from snowdrops, crocuses and winter heaths. 6 The Royal Horticultural Society’s Plants for Pollinators list for winter, November to February, includes: 1
- Bulbs: winter-flowering crocus, winter aconite and the common snowdrop.
- Shrubs: hardy heathers, Oregon grape (mahonia), winter-flowering honeysuckle, sweet box and laurustinus.
- Others: winter-flowering hellebores, and willow as a shrub or a tree.
Its spring list, March to May, carries on with spring-flowering crocus, grape hyacinth, flowering currant, field maple, hawthorn and willow again, among many more. 1 Bee plants shows what the pollen from the commoner ones looks like at the hive.
Pick single flowers
Choose plants with single flowers. Most doubles, and other cultivars that give much less pollen and nectar, are left off the list even where the plant they come from is on it. And never use pesticides on plants in flower. 1
Bulbs
- When: spring-flowering bulbs, crocus among them, are planted in autumn, preferably by the end of September. 2
- How deep: most bulbs go in at two to three times their own depth, so a 5 cm bulb goes 10 to 15 cm down. 2
- Snowdrops are thought to do best planted, moved or divided “in the green”, after flowering while they are still in leaf, though dried bulbs can work too. 2
- Squirrels can be a problem, particularly with crocus. 2
Crocus, snowdrop and winter aconite have their own pages.
Trees and shrubs
- Bare-root: only on sale in winter and early spring while the plants are dormant, and cheaper than plants in pots. Plant them straight away. 3
- Root-balled: only available in autumn and winter. 3
- In containers: can go in at any time of year, but are easier to look after if planted in autumn or winter, because they need less watering than ones planted in spring or summer. 3
Willow and mahonia are both on the winter list. 1 Goat willow, mahonia and hazel have their own pages.
If pollen is short every year
If pollen is short year after year, the site itself may lack forage, and moving the colonies is worth considering. 4 Spring feeding and pollen covers bridging a gap in the meantime.
The short version
- Early pollen is essential to a colony’s development, and much of it is planted in autumn and winter.
- Late winter forage: crocus, snowdrop, winter aconite, heathers, mahonia, hellebores, willow.
- Bulbs: in autumn, ideally by the end of September, at two to three times their depth.
- Bare-root trees and shrubs while dormant, potted ones easiest in autumn or winter.
- Single flowers, and no pesticides on anything in flower.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change - always check the current guidance on GOV.UK before relying on it.