Peak Blooming Periods for California Desert Wildflowers

Jan

February

March

April

May

June

…..……..…..Imperial Valley….....……….
Best Areas: Holtville, Algodones Dunes, south of Hwy.
80 between Calexico and Ocotillo.
Dominant Species: desert lilies, evening primrose,
lupine, phacelia.

….….Anza/Borrego (lower elevation)...........

Best Areas: base of Superstition Mts., west of Imperial,
Borrego Valley.
Dominant species: desert lilies, lupine, verbena, primrose.

…..…...Death Valley (lower elevation).............
Best Areas: Jubilee Pass, Hwy. 190 near Furnace Creek Inn,

base of Daylight Pass.

Dominant species: desert star, blazing star, geraea, mimulus, 

encelia, poppies, verbena, evening primrose.


SOME YEARS the desert is spectacular
with wildflowers; other years the
blossoms are almost nonexistent (but
never totally absent). A “good” wildflower
year depends on three things: well-spaced
rainfall through winter and early spring
months; sufficient warmth from the sun;
and the lack of desiccating winds.


………..……...Coachella Valley.........................

Best Areas: North shore of Salton Sea, Box Canyon, Del Sol Rd.

Dominant species: verbena, evening primrose, geraea, hairy-

leaved sunflower. ……………...……....Antelope Valley.................................
Best Areas: Quartz Hill, east and west of Palmdale, Fairmont, Hi Vista.
Dominant species: poppies, phacelia, coreopsis, desert aster, gilia, primrose.

…..…….........Anza/Borrego (higher elevation)……..............

Best Areas: Anza, Julian, Warner Springs.

Dominant species: poppies, buttercups, lupine, penstemons, mallows.


…….................Morongo/Yucca Valley........................

Best Areas: along Twentynine Palms Hwy., Old Woman Springs
Dominant species: encelia, poppies, blazing star, yucca, joshua tree.

.…Death Valley (2000-4000 ft. elev.)….
Best Areas: Panamints.

Dominant species: paintbrush, desert rue, lupine.


......Joshua Tree/East Mojave......
Best Areas: along Hwy. 66 from Barstow to 

Needles, Joshua Tree Natl Park.

Dominant species: desert sunflower, sage, 

asters, poppies, verbena, yucca, joshua tree.


…..Death Valley (above 4500 ft)…..
Best Areas: High Panamints

Dominant species: wildrose, golden rabbitbrush, 

Panamint daisies, mariposa, lupine.


…….Owens Valley……
Best Areas: Lone Pine, Alabama Hills
Dominant species: gilias, phacelias,
daisies.