community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Sunizona, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 98% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in summer (98th percentile) and lowest in fall (76th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.0 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.8 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 1.8 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Sunizona?
- First forage: Jan 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Jul 15, peaking late May (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sunizona, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); extra 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
- Corn: about 48 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi SW, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi E, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 24 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi NE, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Sunizona
Mostly: Chihuahuan Loamy Plains Desert Grassland; North American Warm Desert Ruderal & Planted Scrub; Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.27 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.7 mi SW.
How Sunizona ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 67th | 80th | 49th | 54th |
| Arizona | 98th | 96th | 98th | 76th |
| Madrean Archipelago | 99th | 95th | 98th | 60th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 59% 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 Sunizona: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sunsites 13 mi · Elfrida 15 mi · McNeal 19 mi · Dragoon 25 mi · Willcox 28 mi · Tombstone 28 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 Sunizona (31.8855, -109.6332); 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.