community in South Carolina
Honey bee forage in Unity, South Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 41% of sites in South Carolina. Against other South Carolina sites it stands out most in summer (55th percentile) and lowest in fall (22nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.9 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Unity?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Jul 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Aug 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Unity, 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 20.
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, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, soybeans; extra 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Soybeans: about 18 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi E, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 22 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi E, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 2 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 Unity
Mostly: Southern Piedmont Dry Oak Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.11 mi SE.
How Unity ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 52nd | 82nd | 27th | 6th |
| South Carolina | 41st | 49th | 55th | 22nd |
| Piedmont | 47th | 51st | 38th | 34th |
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 Unity: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Buford 5 mi · Lancaster 7 mi · Tradesville 8 mi · Van Wyck 9 mi · Elgin 10 mi · Springdale 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 Unity (34.8016, -80.6918); 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.