Is Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Robin Hill' (Pink Juneberry Tree) good for bees?

angelajmonckton

I am looking for a small feature tree for my front garden lawn that will attract bees. There seems to be mixed advice about whether amelanchier are attractive to bees. Does anyone have any experience either way?

clarke.brunt

I have that exact tree. A friend recommended it. I like it a lot, but the thing is, its spring flowering season lasts about two days! OK - I exaggerate a bit, but no sooner is it covered in flowers than they drop. I never really watched out for bees on it, but they'd have to be quick! The other thing - I was expecting berries, but the most I've had two or three, or in most seasons, none. Do other people get berries? Does it need the bees to find and and pollinate - maybe from another one? With its 'possibly hybrid' name (i.e. the 'x'), is it an infertile hybrid? If so, then calling it a June-'berry' is a bit of a misnomer.

Loxley

Yes they are very brief in flower. Not sure how attractive to bees they are, but the bees better be quick.

Bijdezee

Not sure about the bees but the blackbirds go crazy for the berries. 

lexietta88

I had lovely white flowers one year after planting, but then in year 2...(2020) there were none! I've done nothing to it since planting. Does it need feeding? 

clarke.brunt

Difficult to imagine why no flowers in year 2. Feeding is never going to be so 'clear cut', especially with a plant with free root-run in the open ground. Of course feeding might help. I assume it had decent foliage in both years? It's going to be the summer foliage which 'feeds up' the tree ready for it's brief spring display.

I asked earlier if people get berries, as I don't (or at most a very few). Clearly Bijdezee gets berries (which the birds eat). Anyone else? I see that Amelanchier 'Robin Hill' can be found listed as a cultivar/hybrid/whatever of A. grandiflora, A. lamarckii, or A. arborea. Little doubt that these are all the same 'Robin Hill'. I originally got mine from nearby 'specimen tree' nursery https://www.barcham.co.uk/store/products/amelanchier-arborea-robin-hill (though don't think mine was so big or expensive years ago!). I'm sure they used to list the berries as a 'feature', but they no longer do - just mentioning the flowers, the foliage, and the autumn colour. Of course might be because the berries aren't really an 'attraction', except to birds.