city in South Carolina
Honey bee forage in Georgetown, South Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 56% of sites in South Carolina. Against other South Carolina sites it stands out most in fall (97th percentile) and lowest in spring (36th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.5 mi W, 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 Georgetown?
- 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 early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Georgetown, 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 4.
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, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.5 mi W, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 8 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi NE, blooms early May – early 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 Georgetown
Mostly: Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Fresh and Oligohaline Tidal Marsh; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.05 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.07 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 50% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Georgetown ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 61st | 78th | 26th | 50th |
| South Carolina | 56th | 36th | 53rd | 97th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 56th | 76th | 92nd | 80th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 40% 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 Georgetown: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
DeBordieu Colony 6 mi · Pawleys Island 10 mi · Litchfield Beach 12 mi · Dunbar 12 mi · Andrews 17 mi · Murrells Inlet 18 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 Georgetown (33.3724, -79.2808); 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.