The common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, is a beloved deciduous shrub frequently found in temperate gardens. Lilacs definitely attract bees and other pollinators, serving as a significant resource for a variety of insects. They draw visitors in using specialized biological features and a mix of sensory signals.
Lilac Features That Attract Pollinators
The most powerful attractant of the lilac is its intensely sweet fragrance, a chemical signal guiding insects over long distances. This potent perfume is produced by volatile organic compounds released by the flowers. Once nearby, the vibrant color of the blossoms takes over, primarily shades of purple, violet, and blue.
Bees possess photoreceptors highly sensitive to these shorter wavelengths of light, including ultraviolet light, making purple flowers exceptionally visible targets. The structure of the lilac’s inflorescence, a dense cluster known as a panicle, provides an efficient feeding station. This clustering allows foraging insects to collect abundant nectar and pollen without expending extra energy flying between separate plants.
The flowers are rich in both nectar and pollen, offering a substantial nutritional reward. This combination of visual cues, olfactory signals, and high-quality food ensures lilacs are reliably included in the foraging routes of many pollinator species.
Who Are Lilac’s Visitors
A wide array of insects, and even some birds, utilize the lilac for its pollen and nectar. The common honeybee, Apis mellifera, is a frequent and highly visible visitor, thriving on the plentiful resources offered by the dense flower clusters. These social bees use the lilac’s offerings to build up their stores early in the season.
The shrub also supports numerous species of native bees, often overlooked in favor of the honeybee. Small native bees, such as mason bees or mining bees, and solitary species like the leafcutter bee forage extensively on lilac flowers. These solitary pollinators collect pollen and nectar for their developing young.
Lilacs also serve as a food source for non-bee pollinators. Butterflies, drawn to the purple and blue hues, probe the tubular flowers with their long proboscises. Moths, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects are also attracted to the shrub.
Lilacs as Essential Early Spring Food
The timing of the lilac bloom makes it a valuable resource in the seasonal cycle of many pollinators. Lilacs are one of the first major woody shrubs to flower in the temperate zone, typically blooming in mid to late spring. This early appearance bridges a gap in the food supply, emerging before many other field and tree resources become available.
The nectar and pollen provided during this time are important for queen bumblebees, which emerge from hibernation needing immediate energy to establish nests. Solitary bees emerging from winter dormancy also rely on this early supply to begin provisioning their brood cells. While the bloom period for a single common lilac bush lasts only three to four weeks, the nutritional contribution is substantial for emerging pollinators. Planting a variety of early, mid, and late-season lilac cultivars can extend this feeding window, ensuring a reliable resource is available for six weeks or more.