Wildflowers

Wildflower bloom in Death Valley National Park

Despite the dry, hot summer conditions in Death Valley, springtime often brings a luscious bloom of colorful wildflowers. Just a little bit of winter rain can bring an abundance of life to Death Valley. With mild temperatures in the 60-70s, mid-February to mid-May is the best time to explore the park and enjoy the wildflowers. Will this year be a great year for wildflowers? Only time can tell! We have had a few early winter rain storms so make your plans to visit in the Spring and see what nature has in store.

Will 2026 see a Superbloom?

It’s been a decade since the last Superbloom. Sprouts have been spotted in many areas of the park, including washes and on hillsides. Low-elevation flowers will likely bloom Feb-March and higher elevations will have blooms April-June.

Bloomscope: Week of February 24th

The flowers have begun introducing themselves to one another. What were separate sightings last week now stretch into quiet constellations across the valley floor, especially in the warm afternoon light. If you step outside early at the Oasis, you may notice familiar paths suddenly look brighter than you remember — a small reminder the desert rarely changes all at once, but it never stays the same either.

Peak Blooming Periods

Mid-February to mid-April at lower elevations (valley floor and alluvial fans)

  • Best Areas: Jubilee Pass, Highway 190 near The Inn, base of Daylight Pass
  • Look for: desert star, blazing star, desert gold, mimulus, encelia, poppies, verbena, evening primrose, phacelia, and various species of cacti (usually above the valley floor).

Early April to early May at 2,000 to 4,000 ft. elevations

  • Best areas: Panamint Mountains
  • Look for: paintbrush, Mojave desert rue, lupine, Joshua tree, bear poppy, cacti and Panamint daisies.

Early May to mid-July above 4,000 ft. elevations

  • Best areas: High Panamints
  • Look for: Mojave wildrose, rabbitbrush, Panamint daisies, mariposa lilies and lupine.

For more information on the current wildflower conditions, visit the Death Valley National Park’s Wildflower blog, Death Valley National Park’s Wildflower Report and Desert USA’s Wildflower Report.