city in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Tombstone, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 84% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (82nd percentile) and lowest in summer (60th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Tombstone?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, native wildflowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spring-flowering shrubs)
- Fall flow: May 16 to May 31 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Tombstone, 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 2.
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, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, rabbitbrush, dandelion; amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush, garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; 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 Tombstone
Mostly: Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thornscrub; Chihuahuan Loamy Plains Desert Grassland; Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.07 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.27 mi NE.
How Tombstone ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 21st | 53rd | 12th | 51st |
| Arizona | 84th | 82nd | 60th | 73rd |
| Madrean Archipelago | 51st | 45th | 52nd | 54th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 85% 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 Tombstone: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Whetstone 13 mi · St. David 14 mi · Huachuca City 17 mi · Sierra Vista 18 mi · Benson 20 mi · Sierra Vista Southeast 20 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 Tombstone (31.7208, -110.0767); 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.