city in California
Honey bee forage in Rancho Mirage, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 65% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (73rd percentile) and lowest in spring (43rd). Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river, less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Rancho Mirage?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Mar 31, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Rancho Mirage, 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 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, rabbitbrush; dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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
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 Rancho Mirage
Mostly: Sonora-Mojave Creosotebush-White Bursage Desert Scrub; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi SW; open water 0.15 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 95% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Rancho Mirage ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 67th | 62nd | 24th | 39th |
| California | 65th | 43rd | 47th | 73rd |
| Sonoran Basin and Range | 94th | 88th | 94th | 97th |
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 Rancho Mirage: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Palm Desert 4 mi · Cathedral City 5 mi · Thousand Palms 6 mi · Palm Springs 7 mi · Indian Wells 7 mi · Desert Palms 8 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 Mirage (33.7638, -116.4304); 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.