city in California
Honey bee forage in Rancho Cordova, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 81% of sites in California. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other California sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 1.8 mi N).
When is the honey flow in Rancho Cordova?
- First forage: Jan 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Rancho Cordova, 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 3.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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
- Almonds: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi N, blooms early Feb – late Mar
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 Rancho Cordova
Mostly: California Ruderal Grassland and Meadow; Developed, medium intensity; Temperate Pacific Freshwater Emergent Marsh.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.09 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.52 mi S.
How Rancho Cordova ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 86th | 97th | 42nd | 43rd |
| California | 81st | 77th | 69th | 78th |
| Central California Valley | 41st | 46th | 76th | 88th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 69% 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 Rancho Cordova: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mather 3 mi · Gold River 4 mi · Fair Oaks 5 mi · Carmichael 6 mi · La Riviera 6 mi · Rosemont 7 mi
All towns in California · National map · How the scoring works
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 Rancho Cordova (38.5771, -121.2362); 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.