schackerPlant a BEE Tree!
Posted by schacker on May 12, 2008
We call the Linden Tree the “bee tree” because bees love the fragrant nectar from these large shade trees. Honey bees and wild bees prefer the Linden flowers, so having one in your yard might draw the bees away from polluted nectar sources. You can buy one from The Arbor Day Foundation and the National Tree Trust. The Linden tree you can purchase from them is quite affordable. While you’re at it, get a membership and get 10 flowering trees free! You can feed the bees with these as well.
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Geoff said
That’s a really pretty tree. Do local garden centers carry these?
schacker said
Local nurseries can probably special order you a Linden tree, if they do not have it in stock. Maybe you can direct them to one of the places found online.
Go to Google and type in “buy Linden Tree” — lots of resources pop up.
Also, go here for more information.
http://www.arborday.org Great resourse!
http://www.treegrowersdiary.com/linden.html beautiful pictures!
Gina Hagler said
My kids are going to try to get their classes to plant silver lindens this year for their project. The information I shared with them really made a big impression.
[I posted a longer piece on A Spring without Bees at the science/technology blog I co-author: http://witchesofagnesi.blogspot.com%5D
Judi said
Great idea!
If people in North America will be planting trees to help the bees, is there a native tree we could suggest instead of the Silver Linden? Perhaps the American Linden (Tilia americana)?
Douglas Tallamy’s book, _Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens_ (2007) describes how native plants are essential in the life-cycles of native insects and other wildlife.
~judi
Barbara Schacker said
Silver Linden seems to be the favorite of honey bees, but any Linden is good. Actually, any flowering tree will help bees–flowering crab apple, almond trees and other nut trees, buck eye, red bud, and honey locust trees feed honey bees and other pollinators. Anything in the apple family–pears, apricots, plum are excellent. Vines and bushes can extend the feeding times over the summer. A long blooming climbing rose will feed honey bees for a long time. Mock orange bushes and lilac are great honey bee and butterfly feeders. Berry bushes like blueberries and raspberries and wonderful and you will be rewarded with berries! Many plants that are considered weeds are excellent honey bee supporters: dandelion, vetch, and any kind of clover. Lupine, whether the wild or domestic kind, is a beautiful bee feeder.
Jennifer said
I have read on several sites that Silver Linden is TOXIC to bees?? They suggested planting American Linden. Does anyone know anything about this? I have three hives and was going to plant some Silver Linden. Now I’m not so sure!
Jennifer
Barbara Schacker said
About Silver Lindens being toxic to bees–there is mixed information on this. The problem appears to be rare–every Silver Linden does not kill bees. From what I found out about this, this seems to be a problem only or mostly when there are no other sources of nectar in the area and the bees target the Silver Linden tree. (Perhaps even bees need to eat a balanced diet and usually get a variety of nectars.) If the Silver Linden is the only source of nectar, the flowers will rapidly become empty and reports have noted the bees starved to death when they arrived to find it “all gone”. Thus the piles of dead bees at the bottom of the tree. The bees most effected are bumblebees that are pollen feeders instead of nectar feeders. The pollen is far more intoxicating than the nectar. To avoid this–it would be wise to plant other bee feeder flowering plants nearby or check out the surrounding area for other sources of nectar before planting one of these trees. One can also plant a different kind of Linden–like the American Linden. I found no reports of the problem on these varieties.
Melanie said
Try planting a BeeBee Tree – they are very useful, not only to bees but many other animals/insects, and they are pretty and smell good for several months.
For more info… http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/EVODANA.pdf
For more info and to purchase visit… http://www.tuscarawascountybeeclub.com/beebee.htm
Hilary Cheese said
Please can you clear up some confusion. I have been looking up the Silver Linden Tree and found several references on reputable websites (eg plants for a future) to the fact that it is poisonous to bees. Am I looking at the right plant? Do you have a latin name for the tree you are recommending please?
Melanie said
Tilia Americana Linnaeus
Common Names: American Basswood, Bee Tree, Whitewood, Limetree.
Tilia cordata
Common Name: Littleleaf Linden
http://www.arborday.org/Trees/TreeGuide/TreeDetail.cfm?ID=119
We promote the BeeBee Tree
Click to access EVODANA.pdf
http://www.tuscarawascountybeeclub.com/beebee.htm
schacker said
Hi Hilary,
Post number 8 above explains what we have found out about about Silver Lindens and reports of toxicity. I think to be safe we should consider planting native linden trees, the American Linden for example. The Evodana tree is also called the “Bee Tree” but it is not native to the U.S. So that depends on if you feel strongly about planting only native varieties. Planting variety of flowering trees, shrubs, vines and perennials is, according to Chris Harp, bee doctor, beekeeper and instructor, most helpful as it feeds the young bees a varied diet over whole spring, summer and fall season makes honeybees stronger and more resistant to stress and toxins. Honeybees are genetically designed for a varied diet and so one theory on this is when they eat only Silver Linden nectar to excess they might die from digestive imbalance or metabolism crash–sort of like a diabetic coma. For more expert advice on this issue, you might contact Chris Harp at Honeybeelives.org
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Tony Daly said
I want to plant a Bee Bee Tree.
are there any special instructions which should be complied with when planting.
E.G. does it prefer a lime free soil or does it matter, should I use a mulch when planting?. Any advice would be very gratefully recieved.
JB zinder said
Do not plant lindens they are Allelopathic and release toxins in the soil whcih preven other bee friendly plants from growing there are many other better options
schacker said
I do not find evidence to support the claim that Lindens are allelopathic.
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Bill said
I have a bee tree in my back yard and bee central is a under statement. Here is the question I have. Why would one lenden draw thousands of bees and another drawing none? I mean none. I ask because I have the same type tree in my front yard and it gets no bee activity at all. I also have hornet & wasps in the tree in the back yard. Fun time while I mow under the one in back yard.
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