SoCal Wildflowers May Be 'Late Bloomers' This Year

MALIBU, CA – This season's wildflowers might be 'late bloomers' due to less than average rainfall and late in the season rainstorms, according to ecologists at Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area ecologists. Normally at this point in the season, the area would be covered in beautiful wildflower blooms, but so far park rangers report only seeing a few prickly phlox, currants, Indian paintbrush, bush lupine and California brittlebush.

However, not all hope is lost thanks to some late rainfall, the press release said. The recent rains that Southern California has seen are encouraging, Joey Algiers, a National Park Service restoration ecologist, said.

“What was looking like a bad year for wildflowers could turn around, potentially peaking in mid to late April,” Algers said.

The turbulent weather has been confusing for plants, he said. There has been a fluctuation between warm, dry, cold, frost and heavy raining.

At a weather recording station in Cheeseboro Canyon in Agoura Hills, 7.05 inches of precipitation has been recorded so far this season. At this time last year, 18.93 inches of rain had fallen by this time, the press release said.

“The cues are sort of out of whack,” he said. “Plants respond to temperature, water and sunlight cues.”

Ralph Waycott has been a volunteer leading hikes through the Backbone Trail for 15 years, and said he'll typically see 150 or more species in bloom.

“There are a few things coming up,” Waycott said in a statement. “Plants are just now getting to the blooming schedule. They’re late bloomers this year.”

To take a look at the wildflowers in the Santa Monica Mountains yourself, the recreation area suggests Malibu Creek State Park, the China Flat area in Cheeseboro Canyon, and Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park.

For the latest news on the wildflower bloom visit smmflowers.org/whatsblooming or call the visitor center at 805-370-2301.

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