community in South Carolina
Honey bee forage in Burton, South Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 72% of sites in South Carolina. Against other South Carolina sites it stands out most in fall (76th percentile) and lowest in summer (44th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.2 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Burton?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden))
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Burton, 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 Feb 25.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); 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
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.2 mi W, blooms late Apr – late May (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 Burton
Mostly: Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh; Open water; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.66 mi SE.
How Burton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 71st | 83rd | 23rd | 28th |
| South Carolina | 72nd | 54th | 44th | 76th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 68th | 84th | 88th | 36th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 57% 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 Burton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Beaufort 3 mi · Shell Point 3 mi · Laurel Bay 4 mi · Port Royal 5 mi · Seabrook 8 mi · Lobeco 9 mi
All towns in South 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 Burton (32.4248, -80.7406); 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.