Winter rains in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts this year indicate that this spring may be a good year for wildflowers in both Tucson and Joshua Tree. There’s a chance we may even experience a super bloom if we get lucky! Of course, like any natural phenomenon, wildflowers are difficult to predict. Here are some tips to give you the best chance of catching this fleeting but awe inspiring glimpse of the desert awash in color.
What is a super bloom?
Super Blooms are those wildflower explosions that blanket the land in eye-poppingly vibrant colors. For many of us the poppy fields of California (and Arizona!) come to mind when we think of a super bloom. But really there are many annual spring wildflowers that have the potential to produce a super bloom. These days, super blooms mainly occur in protected pockets of the Southwestern desert in California, Arizona and Nevada.
Although no one can say if Spring 2023 will be a super bloom year, experts are predicting that it will be a well-above average bloom season.
When are desert wildflowers blooming?
Many circumstances (such as rainfall and temperature) dictate when and if different plants will bloom each year. Although we’ll never be able to predict with absolute certainty, there are some guidelines you can follow to have the best chance of catching blooms during your desert visit.
The good news is that the blooming season in Joshua Tree lasts for several months as cacti bloom later in the year then the winter annual wildflowers do. And Tucson bloom season stretches even longer!
Here’s a monthly guide to what you may find blooming in JT and Tucson:
- February: blooms may begin in the low desert regions where temperatures begin to heat up sooner.
- March: often the best month to catch shows of wild flowers, including poppies and other super blooms.
- April: early April can still be peak wildflower season, and moving into late April cacti start blossoming.
- May: peak cacti flowering season, this is when the Saguaro bloom usually peaks as well.
- June: some cacti (including Saguaro) are generally still in bloom.
- July/ August: monsoon season in Tucson can bring a whole other round of blooms.
Where can you find desert wildflowers?
Joshua Tree: Early in the season try exploring around the South/ Cottonwood Entrance of Joshua National Park. Beginning in March or April, flowers will pop up around the town of Joshua Tree and the West Entrance to the National Park- which is the entrance closest to the House & Casita. If you’re staying at the Casita, you can find wildflowers and cactus blooms amongst the boulders surrounding the property. Keep an eye out while you’re looking for flowers, and you may just spot Lady, our resident Desert Tortoise, too! If you’d like to venture into the park for a hike, here are some of the best trails for spotting flowers in Joshua Tree National Park.
Tucson: JTH Tucson is located conveniently nearby to some prime wildflower viewing spots. Sendero Esperanza trail in Saguaro National Park West and Kings Canyon trail in Tucson Mountain Park are both about a 10 minute drive from us. Picacho Peak State Park is another popular destination for wildflower viewing. It’s located about 45 minutes from us, and is on the way to or from Phoenix.
