Bumblebees are some of our first pollinators to emerge from hibernation in the spring.

Researchers from the University of Ottawa have found that, with climate change, spring is arriving earlier in some areas of North America. Not only does this make it hard for bumblebees to keep up with this shift, some are missing out on blooms they usually rely on in early spring and others are impacted by the unpredictable weather patterns, like cold snaps. As it stands, about 28 per cent of North America’s bumblebees are at risk of becoming Extinct. They need all the help they can get. That’s where you come in. Plant and maintain these 13 early blooming plants to give our bumblebees a leg …or a wing…up.

Before we dive into the plants, we’ve got to address dandelions. These flowers get such a bad rep, but they’re actually a beneficial flower that pollinators benefit from early in the season in areas where native plants have been eradicated. They pop up early in the season and many pollinators, including bumblebees, use them to get them through the early spring days. So please resist the urge to dig them up or apply herbicide to them! That said, bees and other pollinators rely on native plants that they have coevolved with for adequate nutrition so, where possible, add more regionally native plants to your gardens and shrink your lawns as much as you can.

Early blooming Flowers

These flowers bloom in April or May and give nectar rich sustenance to our bumblebees.

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

Aka: Cowslip, Double Yellow Marigold
Flower Colour: Yellow
Height at maturity: 20 – 60 cm
Native Range: AB, BC, MB, , NB, NL, NS, NT, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT
Zone: 2
Light: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Moisture: Moist, Wet

Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)

Aka: Long-Plumed Purple Avens, Old Man’s Whiskers,
Flower Colour: Red
Height At Maturity: 30 cm
Native Range: AB, BC, MB, ON, NT, SK, YT
Zone: 3-7
Light: Sun
Moisture: Dry, Moist

Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris)

Aka: Prairie Crocus
Flower Colour: Purple
Height At Maturity: 15 – 30 cm
Native Range: AB, MB, ON, NT, SK, YT
Zone: 2
Light: Sun
Moisture: Dry, Well Drained

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)

Flower Colour: Dark purple to Green-brown or Yellow
Height At Maturity: 30 – 90 cm
Native Range: ON, NB, NS, QC
Zone: 3-8
Light: Full Shade
Moisture: Moist

Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)

Flower Colour: Yellow
Height At Maturity: 7 – 15 cm
Native Range: ON, NB, NL, NS, QC
Zone: 3-8
Light: Partial Shade
Moisture: Moist

Spotted Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

Aka: Wild Geranium
Flower Colour: Purple-pink
Height At Maturity: 30 – 60 cm
Native Range: ON, QC
Zone: 5-9
Light: Full Shade, Partial Shade, Sun
Moisture: Moist

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Flower Colour: Blue
Height At Maturity: 45 – 60 cm
Native Range: ON, QC
Zone: 3
Light: Full Shade, Partial Shade
Moisture: Moist

Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

Aka: Blue Phlox, Wild Blue Phlox
Flower Colour: Blue, Purple
Height At Maturity: 20 – 40 cm
Native Range: ON, QC
Zone: 3
Light: Full Shade, Partial Shade
Moisture: Moist, Well Drained

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)

Flower Colour: White
Height At Maturity: 30 – 45 cm
Native Range: ON, NS, QC
Zone: 3-8
Light: Full Shade, Partial Shade
Moisture: Moist

Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)

Aka: Big Merrybells
Flower Colour: Yellow
Height At Maturity: 30 – 75 cm
Native Range: ON, QC
Zone: 3
Light: Full Shade
Moisture: Moist

Early Blooming Trees

These trees begin to bloom in April and May – perfect timing for our nectar seeking bumblebees!

Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria)

Aka: Wild Crab-Apple
Plant Type: Deciduous Tree
Flower Colour: White
Height At Maturity: 9 m
Native Range: ON
Light: Partial Shade, Sun
Moisture: Well Drained

Oregon Crabapple (Malus fusca)


Aka: Pacific Crabapple
Plant Type: Deciduous Tree
Flower Colour: White, Pink
Height At Maturity: 6 – 9 m
Native Range: Coastal BC
Light: Partial Shade, Sun
Moisture: Moist, wet

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Aka: Swamp Maple
Plant Type: Deciduous Tree
Flower Colour: Red
Height At Maturity: 25.0 – 30.5 m
Native Range: ON, NB, NL, NS, PE, QC
Zone: 3
Light: Partial Shade, Sun
Moisture: Dry, Moist, Wet

Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)

Plant Type: Deciduous Tree
Flower Colour: White
Height At Maturity: 8 m
Native Range: AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK
Zone: 3
Light: Partial Shade, Sun
Moisture: Dry, Moist

Peach Leaf Willow (Salix amygdaloides)

Plant Type: Deciduous Tree
Flower Colour: Green
Height At Maturity: 6 – 12 m
Native Range: AB, BC, MB, ON, QC, SK
Light: Sun
Moisture: Moist, wet

Learn more about these plant species at our Native Plant Encyclopedia!