One of California’s most dazzling natural phenomena is a vibrant superbloom. Just about every spring, you can discover picturesque flower fields filled with butterflies in Los Angeles with fresh floral scents. Explore our list for some local flower fields in Los Angeles where wildflowers are known to bloom each year.
Will California experience big wildflower blooms in 2025?
California State Parks has announced that the 2025 wildflower bloom is expected to be limited due to lower-than-average winter rainfall. While previous years saw vibrant displays at popular spots like the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, this year’s bloom may not be as dramatic as those in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2023.
Despite this, some organizations are preparing for the season. The Theodore Payne Foundation will revive its “Wild Flower Hotline” in March, providing weekly bloom updates every Friday. Additionally, the California State Parks website is expected to share more details throughout the spring.
- Due to the Los Angeles wildfire crisis, many local landscapes are looking different this year. Before visiting any nature reserve or park, it’s essential to check the current conditions via its respective website or socials.
- No matter where you visit, you must be respectful of the natural environment. Visitors often stray from marked paths, which results in trampled blossoms and ends up damaging the landscape. Make sure you plan your trip carefully and do not step on the plants.
1. The Flower Fields in Carlsbad
This 50-acre natural haven is covered in a technicolor blanket of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers. You’ll get to wander through bands of flowers overlooking the Pacific Ocean, get lost in the Sweat Pea Maze, browse the historic Poinsettia display and orchids. The swaths of flowers turn the rolling hills of Carlsbad Ranch into vivid displays for around seven weeks from March through early May. Advanced reservations are required and can be purchased online.
📍Location: 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008
2. Carrizo Plain National Monument
In this picturesque park, you’ll find Hillside Daisys, Goldfield patches, Thistle Sage, Owl Clover, Lupine, Perennial Bush Coreopsis growing amongst the silvery grass throughout spring. It’s only a couple of hours away from L.A. and offers the perfect way to immerse yourself in nature.
📍Location: Carrizo Plain National Monument, Santa Margarita, CA 93453
3. Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
The grassy hills are usually covered in poppies, transforming them into stunning orange landscapes through eight miles of trails. Poppies tend to open during the cooler temperatures like late afternoons, but you’ll find plenty of other blooms like red maids and forget-me-nots bathing beneath the sun.
📍Location: 15101 Lancaster Rd, Lancaster, CA 93536
4. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is California’s largest state park and offers an incredible variety of plant species. If the weather permits, the arid landscape will have sprinkles of colorful wildflowers like hot pink Beavertail Cactus blossoms along trails. However, you’ll even in the driest seasons you’ll still be able to see the flowers blooming on the palo verde and desert willow.
📍Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA
5. Chino Hills State Park
These beautiful green rolling hills have sprinkles of color contrasted with the fresh blue skies. Just be aware that the park is subject to sudden trail closures, and there are rattlesnakes. Eden always comes with a twist, doesn’t it?
📍Location: 4721 Sapphire Rd, Chino Hills, CA 91709
6. Palos Verdes Peninsula
Because of its coastal location, wildflowers bloom year-round at these flower fields. The grounds reach their peak during March and April, but you can also visit South Coast Botanic Garden for more dazzling displays. After posting a mandatory flower power snap to your feed, head over to the beach while you’re in the area of one of the best flower fields in Los Angeles.
📍Location: Walking trails throughout Palos Verdes Peninsula
7. Point Mugu State Park
You’re bound to find the wildflower you’re looking for here. With over 900 native plants that grow in the area, the search may not be easy but it will definitely be worth it!
📍Location: 9000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
8. Malibu Creek State Park
Find some of the park’s most beautiful blooms near the oak woodlands south of Mulholland Drive in the northwest area of the park. And you should go on a quest for the stunning blue Lupines across the park. There are plenty of activities to fill your day with here and the lush setting makes it a visual feast with or without wildflowers.
Note: Parts of Malibu Creek State Park may still be affected by the wildfires. Make sure you check conditions.
📍Location: 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, CA 91302
9. Channel Islands
Sprinkled across the arid, rugged landscape, you’ll find California poppies, gum-plant, buckwheat, poppies, and verbena adding bright pops of color to the rocky cliffs. Go on a botanical treasure hunt for the giant coreopsis, which can grow up to 6 feet tall between January and April.
📍Location: Channel Islands National Park, CA
10. Joshua Tree National Park
From February, in lower elevation areas, you can head to one of the most beloved deserts in SoCal and enjoy plenty of Arizona lupines, poppy and chuparosa blossoms along the Cottonwood Canyon Bajada Trail. In higher elevations, you’ll see more around June.
📍Location: Joshua Tree National Park, CA
11. Death Valley
While Death Valley is one of the hottest and harshest landscapes in the world, for a brief period in spring the valleys come to life in a beautiful array of colors. Along the slopes and amounts the peaks, you’ll discover pockets of sunbonnets, dandelions, sage, mariposas, and plenty more.
📍Location: Death Valley National Park, CA
12. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
You’ll find explosions of orange poppies here if you go looking for them. While you’re wandering through the breathtaking gardens, be sure to check out the astonishing Blaksley Boulder made up of sandstone from the Santa Ynez Mountains.
📍Location: 1212 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
13. Point Dume Nature Preserve
Take a walk on the cliffside trail at Point Dume for dramatic ocean views and expansive yellow carpets of Giant Coreopsis wildflowers. The quaint nature preserve offers a great lookout spot for glimpses of the gray whale migration, Catalina Island, and the Santa Monica Bay.
📍Location: Cliffside Dr &, Birdview Ave, Malibu, CA 90265
Edited by Sofía Delpueche and Jamie Ferrell