Skip to main content
← Plants for Bees
Birch
Birch botanical plate
Field guide plate · click to zoom

Birch

Betula spp.

Honeybees forage on birch catkins for pollen in early spring, offering a vital protein boost for brood rearing when few other sources are available; peak bloom aligns with April to May in most ranges. No nectar is produced as trees are wind-pollinated. Susceptible to bronze birch borer in stressed or warmer conditions, requiring good site selection for longevity.

Nectarlow
Pollenmedium
BloomApril–May
Zones2-7
TypePerennial
Sunfull
NativeNorthern North America
BeeAI — Ask the old beekeeper
Hey there, honey. Ask me anything about your bees.