Desert wildflowers at Anza-Borrego

What it is

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California, a dry basin ringed by mountains east of San Diego. Seeds of desert annuals can lie in the sand for years. When enough rain falls at the right time in winter, they sprout together and flower in late February and March: purple sand verbena, white dune evening primrose, yellow desert sunflower and desert lily. A very heavy flowering is popularly called a superbloom. It does not happen every year, and in many years the display is modest. Cactus and ocotillo flower a little later and more reliably.

Before you go

• Do not plan far ahead. Follow the park's wildflower reports and go when they say it has begun.
• Flowers peak on the valley floor first, then move up the canyons over several weeks.
• Walk on bare sand between plants, and carry more water than you think you need.

The flowers you will see

Desert sand-verbenaA low-growing wildflower with sweet-scented magenta blooms in sandy desert placesBirdcage evening primroseA desert primrose with white flowers and a cage-like skeletonDesert sunflowerA yellow wildflower of the deserts in western North AmericaHesperocallisA desert plant with white funnel-shaped flowers and deep-set bulbs

Also part of it, and being written: Fouquieria splendens.

Read more

Anza-Borrego Desert State ParkCalifornia’s largest state park, famous for spring wildflower blooms and desert landscapes

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