city in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Tolleson, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 98% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (94th percentile) and lowest in fall (55th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Tolleson?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 30, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa)
- Fall flow: May 16 to Jun 30 (alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Tolleson, 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 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, garden flowers, dandelion; 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
- Alfalfa: about 447 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi S, blooms early Apr – late May (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 63 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi E, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 5 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 Tolleson
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi E; open water 0.15 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 87% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Tolleson ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 68th | 74th | 28th | 34th |
| Arizona | 98th | 94th | 88th | 55th |
| Sonoran Basin and Range | 95th | 92nd | 96th | 94th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Tolleson: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Maricopa Colony 6 mi · Glendale 7 mi · Litchfield Park 7 mi · Youngtown 10 mi · St. Johns 10 mi · Avondale 10 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 Tolleson (33.4484, -112.256); 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.