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Wildflower blooms in SoCal state parks won’t be as big this spring
People visit a super bloom of wild poppies in the hills of Walker Canyon on March 12, 2019, near Lake Elsinore, California.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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Southern California’s wildflower season is right around the corner, but this year’s bloom won’t be as bright and bountiful as in years past.
Our dry winter is partly to blame. Wildflower growth depends on rain and its timing, along with sunlight, temperature patterns and wind.
Lori Wear, a district interpretive program manager with California State Parks, told LAist that although many areas saw rain in recent weeks, the immature plants likely won’t be able to withstand the unusually warm winter weather we’re seeing now.
“All it takes is a couple of 90-degree days,” she said. “And if we're already hitting 82 in February, it doesn't make the prospects very good for a decent bloom year.”
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The details
Major wildflower blooms are historically tied to above average seasonal rainfall, according to California State Parks.
Usually, we need anywhere from 6 to 8 inches of rain throughout the fall and winter to fuel a strong wildflower bloom, Wear said.
If there’s too much wet weather, then some flowers will grow tall enough to conceal their showy neighbors, including poppies. If there’s too little, like this year, the plants won’t have a chance to grow enough to beat the heat.
“ If the heat holds off, then sometimes we can see a late bloom,” she said. “But it doesn't sound like the heat is going to hold off.”
The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, for example, got less wet weather in recent months when compared to 2019 or the 2017 superbloom, when parts of the park were coated in bright orange blossoms.
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But now, it’s just dry, brown grass.
You can check out the current conditions on the PoppyCam live stream here.
The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in 2025 (left) compared to 2017 (right).
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Courtesy of California State Parks
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The headquarters in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — California’s largest — saw less than an inch of rain this winter, according to California State Parks.
That’s a far cry from the annual average of 5.5 inches. For comparison, the park averaged more than 6 inches of rain in years it saw a significant bloom, including 2023 and 2020.
Chino Hills State Park’s wildflowers are also a popular stop, but as of the latest ranger report, there are still no signs of a major bloom.
But even without a booming bloom, Wear said the state parks are still a great place to visit.
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For example, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve offers 8 miles of trails, a tour that teaches you about the history and archaeology of the area, as well as an educational scavenger hunt.
" And even though this year may not be a good year, that doesn't mean that next year won't be stunning,” she said.
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