Spring is just around the corner, which means daffodils, crocus, and tulips will be peaking their heads up soon. Even though I love my ‘Ice follies’ daffodils when they bloom in mid-March, I’m making a concerted effort to include more native spring flowers in my yard and designs. Some of the most charismatic native plants, and those that have great publicists, like Echinacea, Milkweeds, and Beebalms, are summer blooms. They get the spotlight, while we forget about the important shoulder seasons of spring and fall.
As the world starts waking up in spring, so are the pollinators. After a long winter, they need resources to start out the season. Our current human garden models push off blooms into the riot of summer color, which leaves pollinators out in the cold. The easy solution to support all pollinators, especially those that specialize on spring plants, is to plant more spring-blooming native plants. Woody plants, like trees and shrubs, are key to providing spring pollinator resources because they bloom earlier than tender herbaceous plants.
Here’s a quick list of some of my favorite spring blooms that provide great pollinator value and beauty. Consider adding a few of these to your garden this season, or get in touch and I can help find the perfect spot for you within a maintenance plan.
Trees and Shrubs
Willows (Salix spp.) – We have a number of native species of willows in New England. Most of them bloom very early in the year, when early pollinators need the resources. Willows also support a large number of specialist bees who only feed on members of the Salix genus (Fowler, J. & Droege, S. 2020). The most popular, and subsequently easiest to find, is Pussy Willow (Salix discolor). If you have a sunny, wet spot that needs a habitat thicket, this is the Willow for you.
Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) – Yes, blueberries are native to New England. Yes, they are some of the best spring blooms for pollinators. The white bell-shaped flowers are some of the earliest blooms of the season providing vital nectar and pollen for bees coming out of hibernation. Another plus, you get to enjoy some berries later in the season!
Cherries (Prunus spp.) – Another early blooming genus that offers immense beauty and pollinator value. Our native Cherries bloom early and offer a ton of pollen and nectar for bees and insects in April and May. Later in the season they are the host plants for over 400 species of butterflies and moths (Tallamy, D.W. & Shopshire, K.J. 2009). Birds also get a chance to eat the fruit once it ripens in midsummer. I highly recommend Beach Plum (Prunus maritima) for hot, dry areas. they can work well in a front yard as an anchor tree because they stay below 10 feet tall.
Herbaceous Plants
Violets (Viola spp.) – There are a number of violets species that abound in New England. The most common is the Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia). You can find it in almost any lawn that has a bit of shade. People pull these out because they “ruin” the aesthetic of a pristine lawn. I’ve kept mine and allowed them to expand in large patches. They provide incredible cheer to a garden when they bloom in the spring. I can’t recommend them highly enough!
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadense) – This spring bloom is one of the most fleeting in New England. The leaf and bud of Bloodroot begin to work their way up out of the ground around early April in southeastern Massachusetts, where I live. The bud will rise above the leaf until the white flower opens delicately to reveal the bright yellow stamens and styles. The flower will only last a few days, but will lose its petals earlier if it’s pollinated. The whole plant is about as tall as a pen, but it packs elegance like few others. The popular name and its genus name comes from the fact that the plant, especially the rhizome, contains a deep red sap.
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) – A plant that no one will ever forget after they see it for the first time. Virginia Bluebells are named for the Robin’s egg blue flowers that arrive in April. When the leaves first poke up through the soil and leaf litter, they are a dusky purple before they flush out to their final blueish-green. The flowers will delight you for a week or two before they are done for the season. Queen bumblebees favor patches of Virginia Bluebells when they emerge from winter hibernation (Lanterman et al., 2019). That nutrition they get from the flowers gives them the boost they need to start their community for the season.
Spotted Cranesbill (Geranium maculatum) – A native geranium that will brighten up a shady spot in your garden. This spring bloomer stands about a foot and a half at most, so it’s much taller than many of its companions. Spotted Cranesbill has incredible foliage too. The leaves are deeply lobed and have a ton of texture . Pink to purple flowers arrive in May to offer a pop of cheer , especially when planted en masse. One of the best features of Spotted Cranesbill, in my opinion, are the fruits. Once the seeds are ready, the plant flings them with mini catapults! The remaining floral parts of the plant look like a chandelier perched atop the flower stalk. It’s a treat for those who take a moment to look closer.
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) – This spring bloom is pleasant surprise each year. The stems and leaves rise out of the soil with the leaves twirled together like the wrapper of a lollipop. The flowers hang under the leaves in late April to mid-May. You’ll have to put some effort in to see them, but they are worth it. They’ll also give you some suspense when they’re coming up. Patches expand underground each year. You’ll never know where a new stem might pop up next year.
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) – Foamflower has become a darling of shade gardens as a living mulch. The plant runs along the ground covering large areas. The flowers don’t have any distinct petals so they look like white fluffy spikes. The big swathes in bloom look like the ground is covered in foam, hence the name.
References
Fowler, J. & Droege, S. Pollen Specialist Bees of the Eastern United States. (2020). Accessed February 16, 2025,
from https://jarrodfowler.com/specialist_bees.html
Lanterman, J., Reeher, P., Mitchell, R. J., & Goodell, K. (2019). Habitat Preference and
Phenology of Nest Seeking and Foraging Spring Bumble Bee Queens in Northeastern North America (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus). The American Midland Naturalist, 182(2). https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A605414951/AONE?u=mlin_s_richards&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=71a9345f
Tallamy, D.W. and Shropshire, K.J. (2009). “Ranking Lepidopteran Use of Native Versus
Introduced Plants.” Conservation Biology, 23: 941-947. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01202.x
Photo credits
- Willows – “earliest sign of spring” © Matt MacGillivray
- Blueberries – “Trosbosbes – Vaccinium corymbosum” © Gertjan van Noord, License
- Cherries – “Beach Plum – Prunus maritima 110515” © cultivar413
- Bloodroot – © Stephen Kiely/Kiely Ecological Landscapes, 2024, all rights reserved.
- Virginia Bluebells – “Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)” © Joshua Mayer
- Spotted Cranesbill – “Geranium maculatum, the wild geranium, spotted geranium, or wood geranium” © Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
- Mayapple – “Mayapple“, public domain image provided by NatureServe
- Foamflower – “P4168163” © MixGingerSnaps