There are numerous flower fields and wildflower blooms in California that bloom in brilliant colors in Spring. The hillsides are covered in vibrant orange poppies, attracting visitors for their beauty. Here are a few Southern California flower fields and map locations, well-known for their floral displays. Though I try to give the best estimate on when is the best time to go and see the bloom, you should always check before heading your way there, since the bloom varies each year based on rainfall and spring sunshine.
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve:
- Location: Lancaster,
- Flower type: Various Poppies especially California poppies blooms
- Season: Late February to mid-April. Best to check site for Bloom Status
Carlsbad Flower Fields:
- Location: The Flower Fields at Carlsbad, Ranch, Carlsbad.
- Flower type: Acres of blooming ranunculus flowers; Tecolote Giant Ranunculus (also is known as a Persian Buttercup or Ranunculus Asiatic).
- Season: Early March to April. (Changes Yearly. Opens March 1st)
Gorman Hills Flower Fields:
- Flower type: California Poppy, Bentham Lupine and others.
- Season: Early March to May 9th. (Changes Yearly. Opens March 1st)
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park:
- Location & Things to do: Catch golden hour at Borrego Palm Canyon, which leads to an oasis of palms, wildlife, and of course, wildflowers. Also, check out the iron pop art installations by artist Ricardo Breceda, which really come alive whilst surrounded by the spring blooms.
- Flower type: Desert lilies, verbena, Parish’s Poppy, Hairy Desert-Sunflower, Sand Verbena, Dune Evening Primrose, Indigo Bush, and more.
- Season: From late February to April.
Carrizo Plain National Monument:
- Location: Carrizo Plain, Central Valley.
- Flower type: Larkspur, phacelia, daisy, California Poppies, lupines, goldfields, etc. but differs year-to-year based on conditions
- Season: March to April
Point Buchon Trail:
- Flower type: California Poppies.
- Season: February to April (Between 8am and 4pm from Thursday to Monday. You’ll have to sign a waiver at the check-in station to absolves PG&E of any responsibility for injuries (since it owns the land)
Point Dume:
- Flower type: California Poppies.
- Season: February to April
Point Mugu State Park:
- Flower type: California Poppies.
- Season: February to April
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park:
- Flower type: California Poppies.
- Season: February to April
Walker Canyon Poppy Fields:
- Location: Lake Elsinore, Walker Canyon.
- Flower type: California poppy and others like bluedick, yellow monolopia, Coulter’s matilija poppy, and the San Bernadino spineflower.
- Season: February to April
Chino Hills State Park:
- Flower type: California poppy and others like bluedick, yellow monolopia, Coulter’s matilija poppy, and the San Bernadino spineflower.
- Season: February to April
Shell Creek Road Meadows:
- Flower type: California poppy and others like bluedick, yellow monolopia, Coulter’s matilija poppy, and the San Bernadino spineflower.
- Season: February to April
Idyllwild Nature Center:
- Flower type: California poppy and others like bluedick, yellow monolopia, Coulter’s matilija poppy, and the San Bernadino spineflower.
- Season: February to April
Palos Verdes Peninsular:
- Flower type: California poppy and others like bluedick, yellow monolopia, Coulter’s matilija poppy, and the San Bernadino spineflower.
- Season: February to April
Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area:
- Location: 30 minutes north of Los Olivos, on Figueroa Mountain Road or Happy Canyon Road. Nestled inside Los Padres National Park. Drive to the Figueroa Mountain Lookout for beautiful views of San Rafael Wilderness and the Santa Ynez Valley.
- Flower type: California poppy and others like purple shooting stars, chocolate lilies, Indian paintbrush, sky lupin, pitcher sage, and goldfields, depending on which month you go during the season.
- Season: February to April; depending on the amount of rain the area receives during the colder months.
Joshua Tree National Park:
- Flower type: Mojave Poppy, Canterbury Bells, Desert Dandelion, and more trumpet-shaped datura, find Mojave aster in rocky hillsides, stunning blue Canterbury bells, and the brilliant reds of the desert Indian paintbrush. Ocotillo, California Bluebell, Parry’s Nolina.
- Season: March to April (starting from lower elevation); changes yearly depending on the amount of rain the area receives during the colder months, and spring sunshine.
Death Valley National Park:
- Flower Type: Desert Star, Blazing Star, Desert Gold, Mimulus, Encelia, Poppies, Verbena, Evening Primrose, Phacelia, and more.
- Season: Feb to April (Lower Elevations); head to Jubilee Pass and the bottom of Daylight Pass for desert star, poppies, verbena, evening primrose and blazing star. April to May (3000-5000 ft elevations), go to Panamint Mountains for paintbrush, Mojave desert rue, lupine, and Panamint daisies. May to July (5000 to 11000 ft elevation), go to the High Panamints for Mojave wildrose, rabbitbrush, mariposa lilies and rabbitbrush.
Mojave National Preserve:
- Flower Type: Mojave Poppy, Canterbury Bells, Desert Dandelion, and more yuccas, Joshua trees, and cacti bloom
- Season: March to April; changes yearly depending on the amount of rain the area receives during the colder months, and spring sunshine.
Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area:
- Location: Three Sister’s Flower Field or head to the Discovery Center and take advantage of a walkway to another spectacular flower field. This walkway meets ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations for wheelchair accessibility.
- Flower Type: Mojave Poppy, Canterbury Bells, Desert Dandelion, and more
- Season: March to April; changes yearly depending on the amount of rain the area receives during the colder months, and spring sunshine.
Channel Islands National Park:
- Location: Santa Barbara, Anacapa, and San Miguel Islands.
- Flower Type: yellow coreopsis flowers, tree sunflower, rare red buckwheat, and the sticky sand verbana. into the summer months you’ll be able to see gumplant, buckwheat, poppies, and verbena blooming as well.
- Season: late January to March & Summer
Southern California Wildflowers Bloom Map
Using This Map: To access the layers (driving routes and places to go), click the tab located in the upper left corner of the map. To reveal or conceal layers, click the checkboxes. You may learn more about each point of interest on the map by clicking on the icons. This map will be added to your Google Maps account if you click the star next to the map’s title. Open Google Maps on your computer or phone, select “Your Places” from the menu, then click Maps. This map will appear on your list.