city in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Wheaton, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 25% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (100th percentile) and lowest in summer (10th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.0 mi S); corn (nearest 1.2 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 2.8 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Wheaton?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Wheaton, 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 May 5.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, black locust; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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
- Soybeans: about 17 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 21 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 74 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.1 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
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 Wheaton
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.27 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.47 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 100% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Wheaton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 86th | 89th | 79th | 87th |
| Illinois | 25th | 97th | 10th | 100th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 18th | 99th | 8th | 100th |
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 Wheaton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Glen Ellyn 2 mi · Winfield 3 mi · Glendale Heights 5 mi · Carol Stream 5 mi · Lisle 5 mi · Warrenville 5 mi
All towns in Illinois · 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 Wheaton (41.8568, -88.1081); 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.