city in Florida
Honey bee forage in Sanibel, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 25% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in fall (59th percentile) and lowest in spring (3rd). Expect a dearth from late Jun to early Nov.
When is the honey flow in Sanibel?
- First forage: Jan 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Mar 15, peaking late Jan (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs)
- Dearth: Jun 16 to Nov 15
- Fall flow: Dec 16 to Dec 31 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sanibel, 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 27.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): summer-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): summer-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
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 Sanibel
Mostly: Open water; Caribbean Coastal Mangrove; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S.
How Sanibel ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 42nd | 38th | 4th | 44th |
| Florida | 25th | 3rd | 6th | 59th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 27th | 1st | 4th | 65th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 67% 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 Sanibel: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Captiva 6 mi · St. James City 6 mi · Punta Rassa 7 mi · Iona 10 mi · Harlem Heights 12 mi · Fort Myers Beach 12 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 Sanibel (26.451, -82.1057); 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.