community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Oracle, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 97% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (98th percentile) and lowest in fall (64th). Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, 0.21 mi N.
When is the honey flow in Oracle?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, spring-flowering shrubs, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Oracle, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, spring-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, rabbitbrush; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, spring-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
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 Oracle
Mostly: Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thornscrub; North American Warm Desert Ruderal & Planted Scrub; Madrean Encinal.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.21 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi N.
How Oracle ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 59th | 85th | 20th | 42nd |
| Arizona | 97th | 98th | 76th | 64th |
| Madrean Archipelago | 97th | 98th | 77th | 39th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 79% 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 Oracle: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Campo Bonito 6 mi · Mammoth 6 mi · Saddlebrooke 6 mi · San Manuel 8 mi · Catalina 11 mi · Summerhaven 11 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 Oracle (32.6084, -110.7823); 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.