city in Oklahoma
Honey bee forage in Norman, Oklahoma
Estimated forage here is better than about 69% of sites in Oklahoma. Against other Oklahoma sites it stands out most in fall (78th percentile) and lowest in summer (51st). Biggest nearby bee crops: sorghum (nearest 2.3 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 2.5 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Norman?
- First forage: Feb 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Aug 15 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Norman, 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 25.
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), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers; 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
- Sorghum: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.3 mi N, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.5 mi N, blooms early May – late 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 Norman
Mostly: Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland; Southeastern Great Plains Tallgrass Prairie; Great Plains Comanchian Ruderal Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.11 mi E; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi E.
How Norman ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 67th | 84th | 41st | 77th |
| Oklahoma | 69th | 69th | 51st | 78th |
| Cross Timbers | 68th | 53rd | 78th | 79th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 84% 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 Norman: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Noble 7 mi · Moore 9 mi · Slaughterville 11 mi · Goldsby 11 mi · Etowah 13 mi · Valley Brook 14 mi
All towns in Oklahoma · 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 Norman (35.2406, -97.3453); 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.