city in Florida

Honey bee forage in Oviedo, Florida

Estimated forage here is better than about 71% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (87th percentile) and lowest in spring (56th). Expect a dearth from early Oct to early Dec.

When is the honey flow in Oviedo?

  • First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Main flow: Jan 1 to Apr 15, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
  • Dearth: Oct 1 to Dec 15
  • Season ends: Dec 31
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Oviedo, 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 3.

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, likely to set over some months
  • Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
  • Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); amber
  • Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; 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

  • Oranges: about 56 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi N, blooms late Feb – late Apr
  • Citrus: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.2 mi N, blooms late Feb – late Apr

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 Oviedo

Mostly: Central Florida Pine Wet Flatwoods; Southern Coastal Plain Hydric Hammock; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).

Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi E; open water 0.05 mi NW.

Things to watch

  • Heavily developed. About 71% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
  • Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Oranges: insecticides used on about 93% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: grapefruit: insecticides used on about 63% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: lemons: insecticides used on about 75% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: tangerines: insecticides used on about 82% of surveyed US acres (2025). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.

How Oviedo ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US74th67th21st44th
Florida71st56th87th61st
Southern Coastal Plain71st51st86th66th

Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.

About 35% 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 Oviedo: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Black Hammock 3 mi · Chuluota 4 mi · University 5 mi · Winter Springs 5 mi · Geneva 7 mi · Goldenrod 7 mi

All towns in Florida · 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 Oviedo (28.6619, -81.1871); 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.