Missouri Nectar Flow & Bee Forage Calendar

What blooms for honey bees in Missouri through the year, when the flow is on and when the dearth hits. Main flow Apr to Jul, fall flow Aug to Oct. Built from the Midwest region: 78 forage plants and crops, honey-bee-confirmed.

Missouri: Your Beekeeping Year

Main flow Apr to Jul Dearth brief Fall flow Aug to Oct

The fall flow mostly builds their own winter stores, not a harvest to bank on. If a hive is light going into winter, feed 2:1 syrup while it is still warm enough for them to take it.

What's blooming in Missouri

Every forage plant behind the flow, including the introduced and invasive honey plants native-plant guides leave out.

Major flow

Nectar strength: low to high (bold names are major flows)

Native Introduced Invasive

Sources for this region: honey-plant references · Klein et al. 2007 · regional varietal honeys · Xerces Midwest (NPPBI 2022) · Xerces Midwest (NPPBI 2022); genus estimate from American Honey Plants · Xerces Midwest (NPPBI 2022); genus estimate from Plants for Bees · Xerces Midwest (NPPBI 2022); values from American Honey Plants · Xerces Midwest (NPPBI 2022); values from Illinois Wildflowers · Xerces Midwest (NPPBI 2022); values from Plants for Bees. Every plant is drawn from these, not generated. Tap any plant name to see its details and source.

Typical regional timing, not a forecast. The sources for this region are listed under the calendar.

Crops near you: bees and farmers

6 crops grown around Missouri that feed bees and mostly depend on them to set a full harvest.

Crop	Blooms	Bees get	Crop needs bees
Canola / rapeseed	Apr to Jun	Nectar + pollen	Moderate
Buckwheat	Jun to Sep	Nectar	High
Cucumber	Jun to Aug	Nectar + pollen	High
Squash & pumpkin	Jun to Sep	Nectar + pollen	Essential
Soybean	Jul to Aug	Nectar	Little
Sunflower	Jul to Sep	Nectar + pollen	Moderate

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