town in North Carolina
Honey bee forage in Manteo, North Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 12% of sites in North Carolina. Against other North Carolina sites it stands out most in fall (100th percentile) and lowest in spring (3rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 3.2 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.2 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Manteo?
- First forage: Jan 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking late Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Manteo, 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 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers, dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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
- Soybeans: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi NW, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi NW, blooms late May – late Jun (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 Manteo
Mostly: Open water; Atlantic Coastal Plain Embayed Region Tidal Salt and Brackish Marsh; Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.09 mi E.
How Manteo ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 45th | 66th | 33rd | 68th |
| North Carolina | 12th | 3rd | 31st | 100th |
| Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain | 13th | 17th | 36th | 99th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 66% 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 Manteo: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Nags Head 4 mi · Wanchese 4 mi · Manns Harbor 7 mi · Kill Devil Hills 8 mi · Kitty Hawk 12 mi · Southern Shores 16 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 Manteo (35.8986, -75.6513); 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.