community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Oatman, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 34% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it ranks highest in spring (47th percentile) and lowest in summer (28th). Expect a dearth from late May to late Sep.
When is the honey flow in Oatman?
- First forage: Jan 16 (native wildflowers, dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (native wildflowers, spring-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Dearth: Jan 16 to Jan 31
- Dearth: May 16 to Sep 30
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Oatman, 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 28.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): native wildflowers, spring-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): rabbitbrush, garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; dark amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): rabbitbrush, garden flowers; dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): native wildflowers, rabbitbrush, spring-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 Oatman
Mostly: Sonora-Mojave Creosotebush-White Bursage Desert Scrub; Mojave Mid-Elevation Mixed 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 E; open water 1.35 mi SE.
How Oatman ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 5th | 24th | 3rd | 31st |
| Arizona | 34th | 47th | 28th | 40th |
| Mojave Basin and Range | 79th | 77th | 66th | 64th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 95% 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 Oatman: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Fort Mohave 11 mi · Mesquite Creek 12 mi · Bullhead City 12 mi · Mojave Ranch Estates 13 mi · Mohave Valley 14 mi · Golden Valley 15 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 Oatman (35.0274, -114.3839); 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.