community in South Carolina
Honey bee forage in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 94% of sites in South Carolina. Against other South Carolina sites it stands out most in spring (91st percentile) and lowest in summer (76th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.0 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.4 mi N).
When is the honey flow in Murrells Inlet?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Murrells Inlet, 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 6.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi SW, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi N, blooms early May – early Jun (grown 5 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 Murrells Inlet
Mostly: Open water; Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.08 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.24 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 88% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Murrells Inlet ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 95th | 37th | 41st |
| South Carolina | 94th | 91st | 76th | 90th |
| Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain | 78th | 95th | 42nd | 84th |
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 Murrells Inlet: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Garden City 4 mi · Surfside Beach 6 mi · Litchfield Beach 7 mi · Bucksport 8 mi · Socastee 9 mi · Pawleys Island 10 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 Murrells Inlet (33.5573, -79.0572); 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.