What to know about this year's wildflowers and spots to see the bloom now

Cheri Carlson, Ventura County Star
·4 min read

Wildflowers started popping up around Ventura County, painting hillsides in patches of yellow, orange and white as this year's bloom kicks off.

The peak may still be weeks away, said Mark Mendelsohn, a botanist at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Chilly temperatures likely are to blame for the later-than-average timing.

Each species needs a slightly different set of conditions from temperature to daylight, Mendelsohn said. The carousel of storms that drenched the county this winter was a good sign for a super bloom. Timing also is key with plants needing rain to come in waves instead of all at once.

But temperatures need to warm up.

“We’ve had some warm days, but it doesn’t seem like it has been enough to really make things pop quite yet,” Mendelsohn said.

He expects to see the height of the bloom around late April or even May. Still, some wildflowers already are putting on a show.

What wildflowers can you see now?

Expect to see occasional bursts of California poppies, but the orange blooms famous in the state have yet to take over.

So far, the blue and white flowers of California lilac shrubs continue to dominate the hillsides, Mendelsohn said. Trail-goers also can spot ankle-high white popcorn flowers, goldfields and the yellow bush poppy around the county.

The majority of the local wildflower species from white lilies to tiny purple owl’s clover are still to come, he said.

Two wildflowers spotted in the area for the first time

After years of drought, the area got drenched during the last two particularly wet winters. Last year, scientists spotted two flowers they hadn’t seen before in the region.

"They’ve probably been here. We just hadn’t discovered them," Mendelsohn said.

Both native to the area, California rock jasmine, just a few inches tall with tiny white and pink flowers, was spotted in Agoura Hills, and the Veatch’s Blazingstar was found in the Simi Hills. The Blazingstar with its yellow-orange flowers was seen in the area for the first time in 2019. Last year, they came back by the thousands.

Where to see wildflowers locally

Here are five spots to see wildflowers around the county:

  • Rancho Sierra Vista: In the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, find bursts of California poppies, broom and native sunflowers blooming along trails at Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park. Entrance: Via Goleta and Lynn Road.

  • Point Mugu State Park: Giant coreopsis and other wildflowers are blooming in the adjacent Point Mugu State Park off the Pacific Coast Highway.

  • Harmon Canyon: Vines of morning glory and other native blooms are starting to show up at the popular Harmon Canyon Preserve. Later in the season, expect to see more poppies, lupine, sage and lilies. Entrance: 7511 Foothill Road, Ventura. Part of the canyon remains closed because of storm damage, but while the lower trails may close temporarily after any weekend rain, they are expected to open after a day or two.

  • Conejo Open Space: Expect to find early wildflowers blooms, including shooting stars, some poppies and owl's clover, on Conejo Open Space trails. Administrator Brian Stark recommended people move around during wildflower season. Each area will have its own crop of flowers, he said. Find trail maps and a wildflower guide at conejo-openspace.org.

  • Paramount Ranch: When you drive into Paramount Ranch, goldfields have started to transform a grassy field next to the driveway into yellow blooms. Nearby trails also are open while construction continues on the former Western Town. Entrance: 2903 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills.

  • Bonus: Channel Islands National Park visitor center: Another easy-to-access spot to see native blooms is in Ventura. Find sunflowers, daisies and buckwheat at the native garden outside the Channel Islands National Park visitor center at the Ventura Harbor. Entrance: 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura.

Tips for wildflower spotting

Mendelsohn called the annual wildflower bloom an awakening of color after a sort of grayish winter. He urged trail-goers to not only take pictures and spend some time to appreciate the blooms, but also to leave them in place and stick to the trails.

There's plenty of great flowers right along the trail, he said.

If plants get picked or trampled, their seeds may be lost and they may not come back again, said Melissa Baffa, executive director of the Ventura Land Trust. Even in the short-term, damage means less habitat for pollinators who use flowers for food and shelter. She also asked trail-goers to keep their dogs on leashes.

Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: What to know about the wildflower bloom in the Santa Monica Mountains