Melliferous trees
Ornamental trees which are particularly attractive to bees (melliferous) and will help sustain bee populations in your orchard.
Heptacodium miconoides
Heptacodium miconioides is a small ornamental tree featuring clusters of small cream white flowers which are very attractive to bees.Paul's Scarlet
A popular small hawthorn with distinctive dark pink blossom with white centres.28.00€buyTetradium daniellii
A large deciduous tree producing plumes of small white flowers which are very attractive to bees.
How to choose Melliferous trees
Most of the fruit trees we sell need bees and other pollinating insects to set fruit, and of course fruit trees provide pollen and nectar in return. However fruit trees are only in flower for a few weeks in the spring and if you want to encourage a healthy bee population around your orchard, it is useful to plant other trees which will sustain them over the summer.
Trees which are particularly attractive to bees are called 'melliferous' and come from many different species. They typically produce abundant flowers, often scented, over a long period. The flowers are also particularly easy for bees to access, and have generous quantities of nectar and pollen.
Note that the pollen of melliferous trees will not cross-pollinate with your orchard trees - the reason for planting them is to provide a resource for bees after the orchard trees have finished flowering,.