Death Valley Wildflowers
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:
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Well-spaced rainfall through-out the winter and early spring
Sufficient warmth from the sun
Lack of desiccating winds
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 to Mid April at lower elevations (valley floor and alluvial fans)
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Best Areas: Jubilee Pass, Highway 190 near the Furnace Creek Inn, base of Daylight Pass
Dominant species: desert star, blazing star, desert gold, mimulus, encelia, poppies, verbena, evening primrose, phacelia, and various species of cacti (usually above the valley floor).
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Best areas: Panamint Mountains
Dominant species: paintbrush, Mojave desert rue, lupine, Joshua tree, bear poppy, cacti and Panamint daisies.
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Best areas: High Panamints
Dominant species: Mojave wildrose, rabbitbrush, Panamint daisies, mariposa lilies and lupine.
Please remember, you are in a National Park. Regulations prohibit picking of wildflowers so that they may be enjoyed by everyone.
Source - National Park Service
Wildflower Lists
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White Blossoms
Orange and Red Blossoms
Yellow Blossoms
Pink and Lavender Blossoms
Blue and Purple Blossoms
Green and Brown Blossoms
Lesser Mojavea Mohavea breviflora
Wildflower Slideshow
The wildflowers in this slideshow are an up-close look of the details of wildflower ...