city in North Carolina
Honey bee forage in Gastonia, North Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in North Carolina. Against other North Carolina sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (69th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.1 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.1 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Gastonia?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Gastonia, 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 Mar 23.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
- 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
- Corn: about 44 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi S, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi S, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 1 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 Gastonia
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.7 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 98% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Gastonia ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 98th | 58th | 47th |
| North Carolina | 95th | 99th | 69th | 93rd |
| Piedmont | 99th | 99th | 90th | 99th |
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 Gastonia: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Springdale 4 mi · Ranlo 4 mi · Dallas 5 mi · Lowell 5 mi · Spencer Mountain 6 mi · McAdenville 6 mi
All towns in North Carolina · 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 Gastonia (35.249, -81.1848); 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.