Events: Spring Wildflowers

Death Valley National Park and Southern Inyo County
Mid February to Mid April

Watch the desert come alive in a sea of colors. Yellow, purple, pink, and white are just some of the colors you will see this time of year. Some years the desert is spectacular with wildflowers; other years the blossoms are almost nonexistent (but never totally absent). A good wildflower year depends on at least three things: Well-spaced rainfall through-out the winter and early spring Sufficient warmth from the sun Lack of desiccating winds There are over 1000 plant species in Death Valley National Park, including 13 species of cactus and 23 endemics (plants that are known to grow only in the Death Valley region). Most of the "showy" plants are desert annuals, also referred to as ephemerals (short-lived). Colors range from white and yellow to purple, blue, red and bright magenta. The best time to see a spring floral display is in years when rainfall has been several times the Death Valley annual average of about 1.9 inches. In general, heavy rains in late October with no more rain through the winter months, will not bring out the flowers as well as rains that are evenly-spaced throughout the winter and into the spring. Peak Blooming Periods for Death Valley are usually... Mid February - Mid April at lower elevations (valley floor and alluvial fans) Happy Hunting... Please remember, you are in a National Park. Regulations prohibit picking of wildflowers so that they may be enjoyed by everyone.

For more information call Death Valley National Park at 760-786-3200, or Death Valley Chamber of Commerce at 760-852-4524.

visit website: nps.gov/deva