town in North Carolina
Honey bee forage in Mint Hill, North Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 83% of sites in North Carolina. Against other North Carolina sites it stands out most in spring (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (56th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.1 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.0 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 1.3 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Mint Hill?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Jul 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 Mint Hill, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs; 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra 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 13 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi SE, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 11 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi SE, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 3 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 Mint Hill
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.03 mi NW; open water 0.04 mi N.
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 Mint Hill ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 97th | 48th | 26th |
| North Carolina | 83rd | 96th | 56th | 66th |
| Piedmont | 95th | 97th | 80th | 90th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 39% 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 Mint Hill: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Stallings 5 mi · Matthews 5 mi · Hemby Bridge 5 mi · Lake Park 7 mi · Fairview 8 mi · Indian Trail 8 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 Mint Hill (35.1785, -80.6557); 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.