town in Alabama
Honey bee forage in Cleveland, Alabama
Estimated forage here is better than about 77% of sites in Alabama. Against other Alabama sites it stands out most in spring (84th percentile) and lowest in fall (67th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.7 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.3 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Cleveland?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Aug 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Cleveland, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Mar 20.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Soybeans: about 33 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi W, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 18 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.7 mi SW, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Cleveland
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland; Southern Appalachian Low-Elevation Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.21 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.22 mi SE.
How Cleveland ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 67th | 91st | 31st | 18th |
| Alabama | 77th | 84th | 77th | 67th |
| Southwestern Appalachians | 77th | 77th | 65th | 10th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 78% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Cleveland: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Rosa 4 mi · Nectar 4 mi · Blountsville 5 mi · Oneonta 6 mi · Allgood 7 mi · Susan Moore 10 mi
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Cleveland (34.0022, -86.5614); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.