Trees for Bees: Witch Hazel

This is one of my favorite trees (or a large shrub) because it is native and blooms at whacky times of the year. Oh, and its flowers look like spiders!

Depending on the species, witch hazel blooms either before winter or after. The native species, Hamamelis virginiana, is a late fall bloomer for bees to add a bit more to their stores.

The spreading, understory tree has thin yellow blossoms and ripens last year’s seeds and expels them at the same time, October to November.

The more ornamental species tend to remain as shrubs and have showier flowers that bloom in early spring, February to March.

The blossoms are hardy enough to withstand late snows and provide that much-needed early nectar for bees.

I like witch hazel so much that I named a character named Hazel: she’s the sister of my protagonist in Guardian of the Pines.

You can read more about the native witch hazel and bees on this post from Ecoblog.