San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood is one of the most densely built, paved, and tree-poor areas in the city. Almost no native vegetation remains inside the Tenderloin itself. However—honey bees forage up to ~2–3 miles, so native vegetation in surrounding districts heavily influences the forage available to colonies kept in or near the Tenderloin.

Although the Tenderloin has very little native vegetation, honey bees in the neighborhood forage widely across San Francisco. Their nectar and pollen primarily come from coastal scrub and woodland natives located west (Twin Peaks, Sutro) and north (Presidio) — especially:

• Coast buckwheat

• Coyote brush

• Willows

• Toyon

• Coffeeberry

• Manzanita

• Bay laurel

• Coast live oak

Together, these plants strongly influence honey production and colony health for any hives located near the Tenderloin.