These 5 Early Garden Flowers Provide Vital Nectar for Bees in April – And Will Inject Color into your Yard, Too

While spring is finally underway, it doesn't mean that your garden is brimming with blooms just yet – and this can cause problems for pollinators.

At this time of year, bees will be eagerly returning to your yard in search of nectar and pollen. Since many plants will bloom in late spring, however, these hungry pollinators will find themselves lacking in vital energy sources. The solution? Early-blooming garden flowers like bluebells, Aubrieta, and dogtooth violet.

These really are some of the best plants for pollinators in April and early May, helping to provide the first vital nectar before the rest of your plants burst into life. Plus, early-blooming flowers are a brilliant way to bring some color and fragrance to beds and containers – so there's no better time to add them to your garden.

1. Dandelions

They might be seen as nothing more than weeds, but dandelions are at the heart of every pollinator garden. Often overlooked, they provide a source of nectar and pollen when both are scarce – helping to bridge the pollinator hunger gap before the summer arrives.

If you find that your garden is frequented by bees but distinctly lacking in nectar-rich flowers, dandelions are the answer. In fact, they are particularly easy for pollinators to feed from thanks to their wide, flat shape.

With all this in mind, the easiest thing you can do at this time of year is simply let dandelions populate your borders or your lawn. (But if you want to go the extra mile, you can shop heirloom dandelion seeds at Amazon.)

2. Bluebells

Bluebells might be the foundation of any fairytale-inspired nostalgia garden, but they also happen to be crucial for pollinators: they are a reliable source of nectar and pollen for queen bumblebees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds.

You're sure to find bluebells in shady woodland spots and sprawling flood plains – but if you're looking to buy a container or two, Virginia bluebells (which you can find at Plant Addicts) are a particularly good choice.

Once they're settled in rich, well-draining soil with partial sun, these native wildflowers require almost no maintenance at all, and they are guaranteed to fill your garden with glorious color.

Crucially, bluebells bloom early enough to feed many different insects at this time of year: depending on the growing zone, they can start to flower from March onwards, providing both nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators as they emerge from hibernation.

3. Aubrieta

Aubrieta is a wonderfully nectar-rich plant that makes the perfect addition to your garden in April. It's one of the best plants for a butterfly garden, producing tiny purple flowers which serve as a real pollinator magnet.

'Cascade purple' Aubrieta (which you can pick up at Walmart) is a hardy, deer-resistant option. It thrives in full sun, forming a dense mat of foliage that will eventually become populated by those delicate blooms.

Butterflies might gravitate toward Aubrieta, but it's also beloved by both bees and hummingbirds. Like bluebells, Aubrieta will flower far earlier than other plants, helping to support pollinators throughout the early spring period.

Aubrieta is also known as rock cress – and it is, unsurprisingly, a popular rock garden plant. So, while you might be accustomed to bees and butterflies crowding your borders and raised garden beds, plants like Aubrieta will help to encourage pollinators to populate dry areas, too.

4. Dogtooth Violet

Dogtooth violet, or Erythronium, is one of the best spring bulbs you can choose, especially when it comes to creating a thriving wildlife garden. Erythronium ‘Pagoda’ is a pale yellow variety that is particularly helpful for pollinators. (You can shop for Erythronium pagoda bulbs at White Flower Farms.)

Also known as trout lily or fawn lily, this hardy bulb will start blooming in April. It does best in partial shade – you'll often find it blooming under trees or shrubs – and it requires rich, moist, well-draining soil.

Native bees are the primary pollinators of Erythronium pagoda, though it also attracts butterflies, moths and hummingbirds. The nectar-rich flowers will bring plenty of spring joy to your borders, while supporting these insects before the summer arrives.

5. Hellebores

Growing hellebores will reward you with dense, weed-suppressing groundcover (thanks to the plants' thick, layered foliage), but it will also help to feed pollinators.

Many varieties of hellebores serve as a crucial nectar source as early as December, sustaining bees and butterflies through winter and spring.

Hellebores also do best in shaded conditions and well-drained soil. Lenten roses are the most widely-grown variety; options like the Frostkiss elemental lenten rose, which you can find at Plant Addicts, will produce handsome, two-tone flowers until well into springtime (and display striking, deep green foliage all year round).

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Want to encourage even more bees to visit your garden this spring? We asked experts how to create the perfect pollinator pit stop.

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