Lilacs (Syringa genus) are popular shrubs known for their intense, sweet fragrance that signals the arrival of spring. Whether these flowering bushes are good for pollinators is not simple, as their value depends heavily on the specific variety planted. Understanding the differences between cultivars is key to creating a supportive habitat for bees, butterflies, and other early-season visitors.
Early Spring Pollinator Resource Availability
Lilacs typically bloom in mid to late spring, a critical period for insect activity when many other nectar and pollen sources are not yet available. This timing places them as a bridging plant for pollinators that have just emerged from their winter dormancy. Queen bumblebees begin foraging early to establish their nests and are in urgent need of immediate, high-energy resources.
The heavily scented flower clusters provide a large volume of resource, attracting a variety of insects, including small native bees, carpenter bees, and butterflies. Nectar, composed mostly of sugar, offers the quick energy needed for flight and foraging. Pollen, which contains protein, fat, and other nutrients, is essential for egg production and feeding developing larvae.
This abundance of food is particularly important for the first wave of spring insects, who face a period of relative scarcity. Lilac pollen and nectar help sustain these populations until later-blooming, more diverse floral sources become widespread. Therefore, any lilac variety that offers accessible nectar and pollen is a significant ecological asset during this early spring window.
How Lilac Flower Structure Affects Pollinator Value
The accessibility of the lilac’s resources is determined by its flower structure, which varies dramatically between cultivated varieties. The simple, single-flowered lilacs, which closely resemble the wild species, are the most valuable to insects. These flowers feature an open structure where the pollen-bearing anthers and the nectar-producing nectaries are easily visible and reachable.
In contrast, many modern hybrid lilacs, especially those developed from the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris), have been bred to produce double flowers. This trait, which appears as extra, dense layers of petals, is the result of a genetic mutation where the plant’s reproductive organs are transformed into additional petals. This change physically obstructs the flower’s throat, effectively burying the nectar and pollen deep within the bloom.
For many native bees and shorter-tongued insects, these double-flowered varieties become functionally useless because they cannot physically reach the food source. While the fragrance remains strong, the plant’s ornamental appeal comes at the cost of ecological function. When selecting a lilac, choosing a species like the Meyer lilac (Syringa meyeri) or the dwarf Korean lilac is a better option, as these tend to have naturally smaller, single flowers that are highly attractive to pollinators.
High-Value Companion Plants for Early Spring
Since the value of lilacs is inconsistent, planting reliable native alternatives or supplements is an excellent strategy to ensure continuous early-season forage. Native willows (Salix species) are among the most valuable early spring plants, as their catkins provide a rich source of both protein-heavy pollen and nectar before many other trees leaf out.
Male willow catkins are particularly beneficial because they are prolific pollen producers, a resource crucial for queen bees establishing their first nests. Another highly recommended option is the serviceberry (Amelanchier species), which is native to North America and produces delicate white blooms very early in the spring.
Serviceberry flowers offer an important early feast of nectar for native bees and butterflies, and the plant serves as a host for the caterpillars of several butterfly species, including the Viceroy. Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) is a lower-growing native perennial that also blooms early, offering easily accessed pollen and nectar for emerging insects.
Selecting native plants ensures they are adapted to the local ecosystem and co-evolved with local insect species. Incorporating these high-value native shrubs and small trees alongside lilacs creates a diverse, dependable food corridor that sustains the widest possible range of early-emerging pollinators.