city in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Sierra Vista, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 97% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (96th percentile) and lowest in fall (71st). Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, 0.23 mi NW.
When is the honey flow in Sierra Vista?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to May 15, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sierra Vista, 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 6.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); 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 Sierra Vista
Mostly: North American Warm Desert Ruderal & Planted Scrub; Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland; Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thornscrub.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.23 mi NW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.25 mi NW.
How Sierra Vista ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 56th | 79th | 27th | 50th |
| Arizona | 97th | 96th | 88th | 71st |
| Madrean Archipelago | 97th | 94th | 93rd | 51st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 62% 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 Sierra Vista: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Huachuca City 5 mi · Sierra Vista Southeast 10 mi · Whetstone 11 mi · Elgin 15 mi · Miracle Valley 16 mi · Palominas 17 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 Sierra Vista (31.5654, -110.3145); 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.