Lilac bushes produce fragrant flowers that attract a variety of pollinators, including honeybees, bumblebees, and other native bee species. However, the sweet nectar and pollen that draws bees to lilacs can also attract unwanted guests like wasps. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the relationship between lilacs and bees and wasps.
Page Contents
- 1 Do lilac flowers attract bees?
- 2 Why are lilacs so attractive to bees?
- 3 What types of bees visit lilac bushes?
- 4 Do lilac bushes also attract wasps?
- 5 Tips for attracting bees to lilac bushes
- 6 The best lilac varieties to attract bees
- 7 Other fragrant flowers to attract bees
- 8 Do beehives help attract more bees to lilacs?
- 9 Conclusion
Do lilac flowers attract bees?
Yes, lilac flowers are very attractive to bees. There are a few reasons for this:
- Lilacs produce an abundance of nectar as a food source for bees.
- The flowers have accessible pollen that bees can easily collect.
- The sweet fragrance helps guide bees to the flowers.
- Lilacs bloom in spring and early summer when bees are most active.
Some of the most common bee visitors to lilac bushes include:
- Honeybees – Apis mellifera
- Bumblebees – Bombus spp.
- Mining bees – Andrena spp.
- Mason bees – Osmia spp.
- Leafcutter bees – Megachile spp.
- Carpenter bees – Xylocopa spp.
These busy pollinators collect protein-rich pollen and sugary nectar from the lilac blooms to feed their colonies. By transferring pollen between flowers, the bees also play an important role in pollination and fruit production.
Why are lilacs so attractive to bees?
There are several key features of lilac flowers that make them magnets for hungry bees in search of food:
Nectar Production
Lilac flowers produce copious amounts of sucrose-dominant nectar as a food source. Nectar is essentially a sugary secretion from the plant to attract pollinators. Bees need lots of floral nectar to make honey to feed their colony and fuel their flight muscles.
Flower Structure
The flower shape of lilacs provides easy access to nectar and pollen for bees. Some flowers conceal the pollen and nectar deep within tubular or complex blooms. But lilac flowers have exposed reproductive parts that bees can easily reach.
Bloom Period
Lilacs bloom in spring and early summer which coincides with peak activity for bees and other pollinators. The abundance of blooms provides a buffet of food at a time when bees need it most to feed new hives and colonies.
Fragrance
The sweet, heady fragrance of lilac blooms helps attract pollinators from far and wide. Bees have an excellent sense of smell and can detect the scent molecules as they forage. Other pollinators like butterflies are also drawn in by the aroma.
What types of bees visit lilac bushes?
Many different bee species are attracted to lilac flowers. Here are some of the most common ones you may spot:
Honeybees
These familiar fuzzy bees live in large hives with thousands of workers. Honeybees collect nectar and pollen from lilacs to make honey. A single honey bee hive may have 50,000 or more workers that require massive food supplies.
Bumblebees
Large and fuzzy like honeybees, bumblebees nest in small colonies in the ground. Bumblebee workers forage on lilac blooms through late spring and summer.
Carpenter Bees
These solitary bees get their name from the fact that they drill nesting tunnels into wood. Carpenter bees are important pollinators of lilacs and can be identified by their large size and shiny black abdomens.
Mining Bees
Tiny mining bees tunnel into soil to make solitary nests. They emerge in early spring to collect nectar and pollen from lilacs and other blossoms.
Mason Bees
Mason bees use mud or chewed plant matter to build nests for their larvae. These gentle bees are specialists on fruit tree and lilac pollination.
Leafcutter Bees
True to their name, these bees cut circular leaf pieces to construct their nests. Leafcutter bees carry pollen on their abdomens, rather than their legs like honeybees.
Do lilac bushes also attract wasps?
Yes, lilac bushes will attract some wasps in addition to bees. Here’s what you need to know:
Types of wasps attracted to lilacs
Several different wasp species visit lilac flowers, including:
- Yellowjackets – recognizable by their black and yellow stripes
- Paper wasps – long legs and umbrella-shaped nests
- European hornets – large with brown and yellow markings
- Potter wasps – metallic blue bodies
Why wasps are interested in lilacs
Wasps are drawn to lilac bushes for the same reason as bees – the flowers offer a rich food source. Wasps collect sugary nectar, fruit juices, and other sweet fluids. They also prey on insects around the bushes. Some wasps even chew up wood and vegetation to make their nests.
Impact on bees and plants
Too many wasps competing for food could potentially impact bee populations and plant pollination. But wasps play a beneficial role as predators to control pests. Having some wasps around lilacs and gardens is normal and healthy.
Tips for attracting bees to lilac bushes
Here are some tips to make your lilac bushes even more attractive for visiting bees:
- Plant lilac varieties with an extended bloom period to provide flowers over several weeks.
- Choose fragrant lilac varieties since scent is a bee magnet.
- Allow some lilac blooms to dry on the bush – bees will collect the seed pods.
- Provide a water source like a shallow bowl, dripping faucet, or bee bath nearby.
- Avoid pesticides which can poison and harm bees.
- Allow fallen leaves and stems to provide shelter for bees.
- Plant complimentary flowers that bloom before and after lilacs.
The best lilac varieties to attract bees
Some top lilac varieties for bringing in the bees include:
Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
The traditional lilac produces masses of sweetly fragrant blooms in shades of lilac, purple, blue, and white.
French Hybrids
Popular hybrids like ‘Sensation’ and ‘Mme. Florent Stepman’ have an extended bloom time from late spring into summer.
Dwarf Korean Lilac (Syringa meyeri)
At 5 to 7 feet tall, this compact bush offers big bee-friendly blooms in light purple.
Bloomerang Lilac
The reblooming ‘Bloomerang’ lilacs flower in spring and again in summer to feed bees.
| Lilac Variety | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Common Lilac | Heavily scented, classic lilac blooms in late spring |
| French Hybrids | Repeat blooming from late spring into summer |
| Dwarf Korean Lilac | Compact size with fragrant purple blooms |
| Bloomerang Lilac | Reblooms in spring and summer |
Other fragrant flowers to attract bees
Lilacs aren’t the only sweetly perfumed flowers that bring in the bees. Here are some other beautifully scented plants bees love:
- Lavender
- Roses
- Fruit trees like apple, cherry, peach
- Sunflowers
- Sage
- Hyssop
- Catmint
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Perovskia (Russian sage)
Do beehives help attract more bees to lilacs?
Yes, placing beehives near lilac bushes can help draw even more bees to the fragrant flowers. Some tips if keeping bees:
- Locate the hive within 100 feet of lilacs and water source.
- Face hive entrance towards morning sun and shelter from wind.
- A strong, healthy colony can have up to 60,000 bees.
- Honeybees may forage within 3 mile radius of hive.
- Avoid opening hive when lilacs are in peak bloom.
Having an active beehive nearby establishes a robust population of pollinators ready to feast on the lilacs each spring. The bees will still visit other flowers too though!
Conclusion
With their sweet scent and plentiful nectar, lilac bushes are highly attractive plants for bees and other pollinators. By providing an excellent source of food, they help support honeybees, bumblebees, solitary bees and more during the critical springtime period. A variety of bee species will flock to the flowers for nourishment. But lilacs may also lure in some unwanted wasps. Choosing fragrant, extended blooming lilac varieties, allowing seed pods to form, and avoiding pesticides are some of the best ways to invite more bees to the blooms. Situate beehives nearby for even greater pollinator appeal. With their beauty and irresistible fragrance, lilacs have a well-earned reputation as a bee-friendly flower.
