community in South Carolina
Honey bee forage in North Santee, South Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 60% of sites in South Carolina. Against other South Carolina sites it stands out most in spring (64th percentile) and lowest in summer (39th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 1.1 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 1.5 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in North Santee?
- First forage: Jan 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to May 31, peaking early Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Jun 30 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Jul 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of North Santee, 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), cotton, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs, soybeans; 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 318 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi N, blooms early May – early Jun (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 61 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi N, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 33 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi N, blooms early Mar – late Apr (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 North Santee
Mostly: Open water; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.02 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.5 mi E.
How North Santee ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 63rd | 87th | 21st | 15th |
| South Carolina | 60th | 64th | 39th | 52nd |
| Southeastern Plains | 66th | 77th | 45th | 63rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 66% 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 North Santee: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Summerton 5 mi · Santee 6 mi · Vance 7 mi · Elloree 9 mi · Eutawville 11 mi · Wyboo 12 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 North Santee (33.5422, -80.4141); 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.