NPS/Robb Hannawacker 
NPS/Hannah Schwalbe Tips for Wildflower ViewingLook low: Many wildflowers in the desert are extremely low growing, which conserves valuable energy and minimizes exposure to harsh conditions like strong wind and harsh sun. Will there be flowers on your visit?Maybe! We can’t ever be completely sure whether there will be flowers blooming at particular times of year, or in particular places. But we can say that some amount of wildflowers bloom in the park every year. We hope you're able to see them! What can we predict?
What can't we predict?
Where and when can you see flowers?The places in the park to go for flowers depend on when you’re looking! Flowers bloom first in lower elevations and then move to higher ones. January to Mid-AprilWhere: Lower elevations on alluvial fans and foothills. These areas include the Park’s Southern Entrance, Cottonwood, and the Pinto Basin areas. Wildflowers (shown below left to right): Arizona Lupine, Desert Gold (Geraea canescens), Desert Canterbury Bells (Phacelia campanularia), and Poppies (Eschscholzia spp.) 
NPS Photos Early March to Early MayWhere: 3000 to 5000 feet elevations, upper desert slopes, canyons, and higher valleys. These areas include Hidden Valley, Indian Cove, Jumbo Rocks, and Twin Tanks areas. 
NPS Photos April through JuneWhere: 5000 + feet elevation on mountain slopes and pinyon pine/juniper woodlands. These areas include Juniper Flats, Black Rock Canyon, and the Covington Flat areas. 
NPS Photos Fall Blooms?!The Mojave and Sonoran Deserts experience periods of heavy rainfall during the summer months from monsoons. These storms often cause flash floods in the desert southwest. With this rainfall comes more potential for plant growth and flowering. Perennial and late blooming plants will take advantage of this moisture. Many of the infamous spring desert wildflowers will not begin blooming again. Some species found in these deserts are exclusively dependent on summer storms. Their blooms from late summer through fall are important components of the park’s flora. 
NPS Photos/Hannah Schwalbe What makes for a great bloom year?Joshua Tree is known as a destination for spectacular spring wildflower displays, but those are the exception, not the rule. Only under perfect conditions does the desert fill with a sea of flowers. This phenomenon tends to happen once every 5 to 10 years when significantly above-average winter rainfall occurs. They are impossible to predict and may become fewer and farther between, especially with a changing climate. Although there are years where the flowers are few, they are never totally absent. What factors do flowers respond to?Deserts are resilient environments where the contrast between rugged landscapes, harsh conditions, and delicate beauty captivates us. Wildflower viewing is one of the ways we can observe this dynamic, if the conditions are right. Wildflower blooms vary from year to year. To best predict whether plants will bloom in abundance in the spring, there are a few important factors to consider: Gentle rain that soaks deeply into the soil is essential for a desert floral display. Wildflower seeds need a half inch or more of rain during a single event to wash their protective coating off and allow them to sprout. For plants to continue growing, rainstorms must come at evenly-spaced intervals throughout the winter and spring. Early rainstorms in September or October trigger large blooms. Annual wildflower seeds will continue to thrive if an El Niño weather pattern brings above-average rainfall to the desert southwest in the late fall and winter. The park resides in the rain shadow of two of the tallest mountains in Southern California, San Gorgonio (11,503 ft or 3506 m in elevation) and San Jacinto (10,834 ft or 3302 m in elevation). This makes it more difficult for typical winter rain events, such as atmospheric rivers, to reach us. The park is a desert after all, which means it receives vastly less rain than other environments. Precipitation gauges collect rainfall data throughout the park. In the Lost Horse Valley, the average amount of rain for fall and winter is 3.61 inches. In the spring of 2019, widespread blooms occurred after the area saw 8.25 inches of fall and winter precipitation (229% of the average). Sprouting wildflowers often remain small and low to the ground until the sun starts to warm the soil. They may not look like they are growing, but a strong root system is often developing below the surface. As temperatures get warmer, well-established plants will exert more energy into growing and displaying flowers. This time in a plant’s life is vital to their future. They depend on their flowers and pollinators to reproduce. A variety of insects, birds, and other wildlife visit flowers to eat nectar. While doing so, these pollinators distribute pollen to other blooms. Inadvertently, they participate in the reproduction cycle of flowering plants. The seeds from a spring bloom can remain viable for many years in the soil but require healthy growing conditions to sprout. Frequent springtime windstorms, without additional rain, can end or prevent a spring bloom. Dry, moving air dehydrates the exposed surfaces of all living things. Desert plants often have waxy, hairy, or spiny leaves to block the wind and hold onto precious moisture. Humans can carry and drink water as needed, but the wildflowers must retain their water. They must grow and bloom before they dry out, to leave seeds scattered on the desert floor. High wind is a common occurrence in Joshua Tree National Park.
Learn more about flowers!
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Last updated: February 10, 2026