town in North Carolina
Honey bee forage in Southern Shores, North Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in North Carolina. Against other North Carolina sites it stands out most in spring (95th percentile) and lowest in summer (52nd). Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river, less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Southern Shores?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 15, peaking late Mar (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 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 Southern Shores, 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 24.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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, 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Southern Shores
Mostly: Open water; Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Wooded Swamp; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.14 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 79% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Southern Shores ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 97th | 45th | 35th |
| North Carolina | 82nd | 95th | 52nd | 76th |
| Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain | 73rd | 98th | 50th | 76th |
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 Southern Shores: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Kitty Hawk 3 mi · Duck 5 mi · Kill Devil Hills 8 mi · Grandy 12 mi · Nags Head 13 mi · Manns Harbor 15 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 Southern Shores (36.1167, -75.733); 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.