What to know about local wildflower blooms, and where to see them

The flowers typically show up later. But early season storms drenched the area, followed by weeks of warm, dry weather. Wildflowers splashed green hillsides with patches of yellow, orange and purple.

"We've had above-average rains, and they came early this year," said Joey Algiers, a plant ecologist with the National Park Service. "That's brought up some color in our mountains, and we're seeing wildflowers blooming earlier than we usually do."

Wildflowers bloom at Rancho Sierra Vista in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in February 2026.

The blooms in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area ran the gamut, from native sunflowers and poppies to lupines and blue dicks.

Each February, Mark Mendelsohn, a park service botanist and wildlife biologist, starts annual plant surveys in the Santa Monicas. Those first days and weeks can be a sort of "guess the seedling" game.

This year was different.

"It almost looks like it is mid-spring out here because of our early heavy rains and then warm days," Mendelsohn said.

When will the wildflower bloom peak?

After weeks of warm, dry conditions, he was a little concerned the hot spells would lead to a "very early and quick" wildflower season.

But then, a small storm swept through, followed by a couple more last week. He has continued to spot blooms, including "lots and lots of wild morning glory."

The flowers aren't necessarily taking over hillsides – at least not yet. But hikers can find pockets of great blooms in most local spots, according to Mendelsohn.

"We are not at the peak yet," he said this week. 

Just how long the season lasts likely depends on the rain. The latest forecast called for another dry period. But if the area gets a little precipitation here and there into March or April, there could be a long bloom.

Where can you see wildflowers now?

Whether this year becomes a super bloom locally also remains to be seen.

The particularly intense display of wildflowers usually gets declared after one shows up. But super bloom or not, Algiers, Mendelsohn and others said it is a great year to go out and experience wildflowers.

Here are three spots to see blooms now.

1. Santa Monica Mountains

California poppies, lupine and native sunflowers are blooming along trails at Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park and the adjacent Point Mugu State Park off the Pacific Coast Highway. The entrance to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is located at Via Goleta and Lynn Road. The park is free and open to the public.

When you drive into Paramount Ranch, also in the Santa Monicas, spot splashes of goldfields in the field next to the driveway. The entrance is located at 2903 Cornell Road in Agoura Hills. More information: nps.gov/samo.

2. Ventura hillsides

In Ventura, hikers and cyclists can find blooms along trails at the popular Harmon Canyon Preserve, including vines of morning glory and bursts of orange poppies.

The entrance is located at 7511 Foothill Road. Harmon Canyon is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk but the parking lot can be busy, particularly Sunday mornings. More information: venturalandtrust.org.

3. Channel Islands National Park

People can experience the islands' wildflowers without leaving the mainland. Wander through the garden outside the visitors center in Ventura and find tall stands of giant coreopsis in bloom, silver lupine and more.