Spring is my favorite time of year to go on a hike with my family, visit a local botanical garden in LA and explore the various areas in and around Los Angeles where you can view wildflowers. Now through May is prime time for flower fans like myself.
In preparation for the season, I’ve created a list of over 20+ places in Los Angeles where you can see wildflowers. From Antelope Valley all the way down to the coastal shores of Malibu, you can see several species of wildflowers including the California Poppy, Giant Coreopsis and Hummingbird Sage.
Just remember to enjoy them and please don’t pick them!
Happy Field Tripping!
Jilleen
Where To See Wildflowers in Los Angeles
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, North Los Angeles County
Each spring, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve comes alive with the seasonal surprises of the Mojave Desert Grassland habitat. The duration and intensity of colors and scents vary from year to year. The wildflower season generally lasts from as early as mid-February through May, with a variety of wildflowers including California Poppies, creating a mosaic of color that changes daily. The peak viewing period is usually late March or early April.
Private group tours for 10 or more may be reserved for weekdays (M-F). Tours must be reserved a minimum of 2 weeks in advance by emailing Jean.Rhyne@parks.ca.gov. Tours are free for not-for-profit organizations and clubs, and school groups. For-profit groups and tour companies will be charged $5 per person in advance, in addition to the parking fees which are paid on arrival.
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve / credit: Saintrain (talk)
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park, Lancaster
The 566-acre Ripley Desert Woodland is located a few miles west of the Poppy Reserve on Lancaster Road at 210th Street West. The park protects and preserves an impressive stand of native Joshuas and junipers which once grew in great abundance throughout the valley. In early spring months, creamy white blossoms begin to grow on the ends of the branches of the Joshua. The blooms last for several months, growing larger and larger as the weeks go by. Set in a bed of wildflowers, the Joshua becomes a site of stately beauty.