Harbingers of Spring: Early Flowering Trees

While spring bulbs like crocus and daffodils are considered the earliest signs of spring, many times the earliest blooms are above your head. Some of our native trees are the earliest plants to flower. These trees provide early nectar for pollinators like bees.

Silver and red maples, which are common sights on street corners and farmsteads, have already started to flower in Columbus. Their small red buds have burst into fluffy yellow flowers and can be seen covering the branches of trees. Elms will closely follow the maples, with small yellow flowers that coat the whole canopy.

Cottonwoods are...