town in North Carolina
Honey bee forage in McAdenville, North Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 79% of sites in North Carolina. Against other North Carolina sites it stands out most in spring (93rd percentile) and lowest in summer (52nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 3.6 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.5 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in McAdenville?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of McAdenville, 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, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi NE, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi NE, 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 McAdenville
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Southern Piedmont Dry Oak Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.04 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 70% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How McAdenville ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 96th | 45th | 38th |
| North Carolina | 79th | 93rd | 52nd | 80th |
| Piedmont | 93rd | 95th | 76th | 96th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 33% 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 McAdenville: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lowell 2 mi · Cramerton 2 mi · Ranlo 3 mi · Spencer Mountain 4 mi · Belmont 4 mi · Springdale 4 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 McAdenville (35.2654, -81.0799); 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.