community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Big Coppitt Key, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 37% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it ranks highest in fall (49th percentile) and lowest in spring (4th). Expect a dearth from early Oct to late Nov.
When is the honey flow in Big Coppitt Key?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Mar 15, peaking late Jan (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Dearth: Oct 1 to Nov 30
- Fall flow: Dec 16 to Dec 31 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Big Coppitt Key, 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 Jan 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
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 Big Coppitt Key
Mostly: Open water; Open Water; Caribbean Estuary Mangrove.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.04 mi SE.
How Big Coppitt Key ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 49th | 42nd | 9th | 40th |
| Florida | 37th | 4th | 41st | 49th |
| Southern Florida Coastal Plain | 44th | 22nd | 46th | 17th |
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 Big Coppitt Key: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Stock Island 6 mi · Key West 8 mi · Cudjoe Key 12 mi · Big Pine Key 20 mi · Marathon 41 mi · Key Colony Beach 41 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 Big Coppitt Key (24.5802, -81.6522); 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.