community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Ak Chin, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 71% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (70th percentile) and lowest in summer (36th). Expect a dearth in late Jun.
When is the honey flow in Ak Chin?
- First forage: Jan 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar), native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 15, peaking late Feb (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Dearth: Jun 16 to Jun 30
- Fall flow: May 1 to May 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ak Chin, 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 Feb 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): rabbitbrush, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), canada thistle; amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): rabbitbrush, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), rabbitbrush, native wildflowers, spring-flowering shrubs; 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 Ak Chin
Mostly: Sonoran Paloverde-Mixed Cacti Desert Scrub; Sonora-Mojave Creosotebush-White Bursage Desert Scrub; North American Warm Desert Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.07 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.13 mi W.
How Ak Chin ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 13th | 40th | 4th | 32nd |
| Arizona | 71st | 70th | 36th | 41st |
| Sonoran Basin and Range | 80th | 78th | 80th | 68th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 96% 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 Ak Chin: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Santa Rosa 4 mi · Anegam 6 mi · Maish Vaya 11 mi · Ko Vaya 16 mi · Nolic 18 mi · Ventana 19 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 Ak Chin (32.2873, -112.0091); 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.