community in Texas
Honey bee forage in Study Butte, Texas
Estimated forage here is better than about 3% of sites in Texas. Against other Texas sites it ranks highest in fall (44th percentile) and lowest in spring (3rd). Expect a dearth from late May to late Sep.
When is the honey flow in Study Butte?
- First forage: Jan 1 (native wildflowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to May 15, peaking late Feb (native wildflowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Dearth: May 16 to Sep 30
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Sep 30 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), rabbitbrush)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Study Butte, 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 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Study Butte
Mostly: Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Shrub-Steppe; Chihuahuan Creosotebush Desert Scrub; North American Warm Desert Pavement.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.06 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.86 mi SE.
How Study Butte ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 5th | 19th | 3rd | 37th |
| Texas | 3rd | 3rd | 6th | 44th |
| Chihuahuan Deserts | 16th | 7th | 12th | 27th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 89% 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 Study Butte: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Terlingua 4 mi · Redford 39 mi · Presidio 52 mi · Marathon 64 mi · Alpine 71 mi · Marfa 73 mi
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 Study Butte (29.3356, -103.5426); 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.