community in Texas
Honey bee forage in Terlingua, Texas
Estimated forage here is better than about 2% of sites in Texas. Against other Texas sites it stands out most in fall (54th percentile) and lowest in spring (2nd). Expect a dearth from late May to late Oct.
When is the honey flow in Terlingua?
- First forage: Jan 1 (native wildflowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jan 16 to May 15, peaking early Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Dearth: May 16 to Oct 31
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Oct 31 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Terlingua, 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, spring-flowering shrubs; 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); amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush; amber
- Whole season (March to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, rabbitbrush; 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 Terlingua
Mostly: Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Shrub-Steppe; North American Warm Desert Pavement; Chihuahuan Creosotebush Desert Scrub.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.18 mi NE; pond, lake or river 1.01 mi W.
How Terlingua ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 5th | 17th | 3rd | 44th |
| Texas | 2nd | 2nd | 5th | 54th |
| Chihuahuan Deserts | 14th | 5th | 10th | 42nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 94% 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 Terlingua: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Study Butte 4 mi · Redford 37 mi · Presidio 51 mi · Marathon 68 mi · Alpine 75 mi · Marfa 76 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 Terlingua (29.2871, -103.5834); 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.