city in Washington
Honey bee forage in Seattle, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 0% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it ranks highest in spring (20th percentile) and lowest in summer (below the 1st). Nearest mapped water: open water, 0.17 mi NE.
When is the honey flow in Seattle?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, maples)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Seattle, 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 Apr 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, maples, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, maples; 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
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 Seattle
Mostly: Open water; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.17 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.38 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 92% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Seattle ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 10th | 40th | 17th | 12th |
| Washington | below the 1st | 20th | below the 1st | 11th |
| Puget Lowland | below the 1st | below the 1st | below the 1st | 16th |
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 Seattle: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Medina 5 mi · Hunts Point 6 mi · Clyde Hill 6 mi · Yarrow Point 6 mi · Mercer Island 7 mi · Beaux Arts Village 7 mi
All towns in Washington · 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 Seattle (47.6193, -122.3515); 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.