Anza-Borrego Desert Wildflowers: Where and When to Look

Spring wildflowers near the Coyote Canyon jeep trail

Where to Look for Wildflowers in Anza-Borrego

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In Spring following a rainy Winter — From Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs, drive east on S-22 for two blocks to DiGiorgio Road, north to Henderson Canyon Road. Either continue north 1.6 mile to the end of the pavement and follow the jeep trail into Coyote Canyon (Note: 4WD recommended after 2.5 miles), or turn east on Henderson Canyon Road 1.5 mile until you come to the flowers.
In Spring following a dry Winter — The mountains to the west of the desert get the most of what little rain there may be, so explore desert roads and trails at the base of the mountains.

See also our lists of Top Spring flowers, Cactus, and Tall Shrubs and Trees.

Suggested times for enjoying the flowers

During or immediately after a rain — Get out and enjoy the air when it’s filled with the aroma of the creosote bush.
Two weeks after a rain — Watch for new green leaves on Ocotillo branches. Look for fields of yellow Chinchweed.
Spring — But don't overlook the other seasons either: Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Plants to look for by location

In mountain foothills and higher elevations: Desert Apricot, Checker Fiddleneck, Indian Paintbrush, and Fringe Amaranth are among the favorites.
In desert valleys: — In Spring, everybody's favorites include Dune Evening Primrose, Desert Chicory, and Desert Sand-Verbena. But don't overlook such plants as Ghost Flower, Desert Star, Rock Daisy, Thick-Leafed Groundcherry, and the many members of the Sunflower Family.

Other Plants to look for

Fragrant plants — Indigo bush, Sweetbush, Dune Evening Primrose, Desert Sand Verbena.

The Desert in Bloom

Why does the desert bloom so sporadically? Most spring wildflowers in the desert are annuals-- they live out their brief lives in a matter of months, then die. They must be sown from seed anew each year like garden annuals. Seeds of desert annuals are quite particular in their requirements. If the soil is too dry because not enough rain has fallen, they won't germinate. If the soil is moist, but the winter has been too cold or too warm, they won't germinate either or may germinate only in low numbers.

During some years the combination of moisture and temperature is just right for certain wildflowers but not for others. In other years a small area will burst into gorgeous bloom while the surrounding countryside is relatively barren. But in the finest years, when the temperature and rainfall requirements of many species have (at long last) been fulfilled, entire counties seem a mass of bloom, and the air is filled with the buzzing of bees and the clicking of cameras.

It's said that such an ideal year comes once every five or ten years. Spring wildflowers have also adapted to the desert by growing only during the time of year when most of us love to be in the desert. Their brief lives are an adaptation to the harsh demands of survival in the desert.

Conservation

It is important to know that many plants in the Southwest are protected by law and may not be cut or dug up. All cacti, yuccas and agaves are protected, as are ocotillo and many wildflowers that grow from the bulbs. In parks and monuments, all plants are protected. Remember, no plant will thrive in your hands the way it will thrive in its native soil. Enjoy, but do not pick.