city in Alabama
Honey bee forage in Sumiton, Alabama
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Alabama. Against other Alabama sites it stands out most in fall (90th percentile) and lowest in summer (80th). Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river, 0.45 mi W.
When is the honey flow in Sumiton?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 15, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sumiton, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Sumiton
Mostly: Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland; Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; Southern Appalachian Low-Elevation Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.45 mi W; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.46 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 62% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Sumiton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 93rd | 33rd | 36th |
| Alabama | 85th | 89th | 80th | 90th |
| Southwestern Appalachians | 88th | 85th | 69th | 56th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 55% 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 Sumiton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Dora 2 mi · West Jefferson 5 mi · Sipsey 5 mi · Cordova 9 mi · Cardiff 10 mi · Graysville 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 Sumiton (33.7493, -87.0469); 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.