Flower Watch
Last updated 5/15/2024 at 9:41am
A noticeable difference from two weeks ago. Flowers are popping and plants are putting out new growth.
To see what the flowers below look like before you head out, search on this site: BorregoWildflowers.org
If you want an app in the flower fields, I recommend the Anza-Borrego Wildflowers app.
The lite version with 100+ flowers is free. The full version (paid) has hundreds. In both versions, you can search by flower color.
As of press time February 26, these plants were flowering in the Henderson Canyon Road Flower Fields (North side, 2.1 miles east of Di Giorgio Road x Henderson Canyon Road intersection, 1.1 mile east of Borrego Valley Road x Henderson Canyon Road intersection):
SHOWY FLOWERS that jump out at you:
- Arizona Lupine (Lupinus arizonicus) A spike of multiple purple-pink "pea" flowers. Leaves with finger-like segments.
- Brown Eyed Primrose (Chylismia claviformis subsp. peirsonii) Slightly nodding red-brown centers with white petals.
- Desert Lily (Hesperocallis undulata) Obvious white lilies on a stalk. Be sure to smell!
- Desert Sand Verbena (Abronia villosa var. villosa) Purple, low-growing clusters.
- Desert Sunflower (Geraea canescens) Tall sunflowers with gold centers.
- Dune Evening Primrose (Oenothera deltoides subsp. deltoides) Big, white, low-growing beauties.
- Gray Desert Sunflower (Helianthus petiolaris subsp. canescens) Tall sunflowers with dark centers.
Noticeable, if looking closer, FLOWERS:
- California Suncup (Eulobus californicus) Delicate, single gold flowers coming horizontally off hefty stems.
- Desert Pincushion (Chaenactis stevioides) Medium flower head of clustered white florets.
- Yellow Blazing Star species (Mentzelia sp.) Medium-small, yellow, flowers.
- Laxflower (Baileya pauciradiata) Yellow, sunflower family flower with long, soft-hairy leaves.
- Spanish Needles (Palafoxia arida var. arida) Cone-shaped clusters of small, dark pink flowers.
- Spectacle Pod (Dithyrea californica) Short, white, 4-lobed clusters with paired fruits that look like spectacles.
SMALL to TINY flowers/less showy/or more limited current blooms:
- Desert Plantain (Plantago ovata var. fastigiate) Spike-like clusters of tiny white flowers.
- Dye Bush (Psorothamnus emoryi) Low-growing delicate subshrub, with clusters of small purple "pea" flowers.
- Frost Mat (Achyronychia cooperi) Teeny tiny white flowers on a small prostrate plant.
- Hairy Podded Pepper Grass (Lepidium lasiocarpum subsp. lasiocarpum) Tiny white flowers in clusters.
- Narrow Leaf Cryptantha (Johnstonella angustifolia) Low-growing plants with small clusters of white flowers.
- Ribbed Cryptantha (Johnstonella costata) Tiny white flowers in clusters.
- Two Seeded Milkvetch (Astragalus didymocarpus var. dispermus) Tiny leaves with tiny purple flowers.
- White Mallow (Eremalche exilis) Charismatic-shaped leaves and small white flowers.
