Vibrant wildflower blooms are already on display, SoCal. Here's where
Vibrant wildflower blooms are already on display, SoCal. Here's where
Paris Barraza, USA TODAYMon, January 26, 2026 at 11:03 PM UTC
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Vibrant wildflower blooms are already on display, SoCal. Here's where
Vibrant wildflower blooms in Southern California are already underway, marking the start to another season forecasted to be quite favorable to our eyes — and our photos.
Moderate-to-strong wildflower blooms are expected across desert state parks this year, thanks to widespread rain during fall and winter, California State Parks spokesperson Jorge Moreno told the USA TODAY Network in an email.
The forecast for this season is a marked difference from last year, when California State Parks warned that wildflower displays could be small as Southern California dealt with below-normal levels of rainfall for months.
But this past December looked far different, when intense rain left some Southern Californians to deal with flooding, building on top of earlier wet weather that had come to the region. By early January, the state experienced a first since 2000: California was drought-free.
Already, the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Red Rock Canyon State Park, which is northeast of the Mojave Desert, have started experiencing "vibrant" wildflower blooms, according to Moreno.
Here’s what to know so that you can make the most of your wildflower viewing in the coming months.
Where can I see wildflowers in Southern California right now?
Head over to Henderson Canyon Road at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is currently offering the most vibrant displays, according to Moreno.
“Visitors are spotting desert sand verbena, primroses, desert sunflowers, apricot mallow, and even desert lilies,” Moreno said.
Other areas at the state park, including Borrego Palm Canyon, are “also starting to show early color,” according to Moreno.
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These blooms may continue through mid-to-late February, dependent on weather, Moreno said.
When can I see poppies? Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve forecast for 2026
One popular sight for poppies is the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, which is west of Lancaster. This state park is generally in bloom from mid-March to May, and visitors can “expect to see a variety of wildflowers to bloom from poppies, fiddleneck, and red stem filaree in dense quantities,” according to Moreno.
Wildflower blooms vary year to year, and it’s based on multiple factors.
“Wildflower growth depends on a delicate mix of weather factors, including rain and its timing, amount of sunlight, seasonal temperature patterns, and wind, so it's difficult to predict exactly when and what level of bloom the different parks will see,” Moreno said.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is having “nice blooms” because of recent warm weather in the area. But the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve blooms later in the season, as it has colder nighttime temperatures being a high-desert park, according to Moreno.
“Early rains and warm conditions have encouraged growth, but it remains too early to predict whether March and April will bring widespread poppy displays or more mixed blooms,” Moreno said.
You can check out the PoppyCam live feed to see bloom conditions before you make any trip.
Where else can I see flower blooms in SoCal?
Other SoCal state parks that may see “good” blooms, Moreno said, include:
Chino Hills State Park
Eastern Kern County Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation Area
Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area
Saddleback Butte State Park
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is it time to see poppies in SoCal? Wildflower bloom forecast 2026
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