community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Santa Rosa, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 69% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (70th percentile) and lowest in fall (28th). Expect a dearth in late Jun.
When is the honey flow in Santa Rosa?
- First forage: Jan 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 30, peaking late Feb (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Dearth: Jun 16 to Jun 30
- Fall flow: May 16 to Jun 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Santa Rosa, 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, clovers: white, alsike and red, spring-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), garden flowers; 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, 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 Santa Rosa
Mostly: Sonora-Mojave Creosotebush-White Bursage Desert Scrub; Sonoran Paloverde-Mixed Cacti Desert Scrub; North American Warm Desert Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.11 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi N.
How Santa Rosa ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 12th | 39th | 5th | 27th |
| Arizona | 69th | 70th | 39th | 28th |
| Sonoran Basin and Range | 80th | 78th | 82nd | 44th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 93% 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 Santa Rosa: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Anegam 3 mi · Ak Chin 4 mi · Maish Vaya 12 mi · Ventana 15 mi · Kohatk 17 mi · Ko Vaya 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 Santa Rosa (32.3325, -112.0463); 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.