Joshua Tree NP and Nearby

Wildflower Reports

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2017 Joshua Tree Wildflower Reports

May 12, 2017 John reports: Photos taken May 8 on the other side of the road across from the Cholla garden at Joshua tree.

May 2, 2017 Susan reports: I was at Joshua Tree, Sunday, April 30. I was surprised at how beautiful it was with hundreds of yellow bushes throughout the landscape among the Joshua Trees. I could only stay for a little while, however, within a few blocks from the Western entrance I saw a wide variety of desert flowers. The ranger said there were were reports that the Nature Trail in Hidden Valley, 9 miles away, is very nice now.

April 24, 2017 Doug reports: West entrance Joshua Tree NP 4/22

April 24, 2017 Matthew reports: My wife and I were in Joshua Tree this last week. Photos were taken on the 18th. The beautiful carpet of yellow dandelions were found about a mile east of Hidden Valley area and a couple of hundred yards off the main road to the south-barely visible from the road. The park is well trampled in the main areas but walks reveal hidden treasures everywhere among the rocks and and washes. Blooming will continue if it isn't baked. I would bump up your meter just a bit.

April 21, 2017 Alex and Julie report: April 14,2017 my wife and I went to Joshua NP while there was still some wildflowers. We also went down Black Eagle Mine Road and found a few gems along there.

April 15, 2017 Pam reports: We entered Joshua Tree at the northwest entrance from Joshua Tree village and as we entered there were lots of yellow and white blooms along the road.

The Wonderland of Rocks area had lots and lots of cacti filled with buds and many just getting their buds so blooms will be showing up here for the next month! A wide variety of blooms in the Wonderland of Rocks area, near Wonderland Ranch and in the wash - we saw Spectacle-pod, White Tidy-Tips, of course Mojave mound cacti and Beavertail and everything yellow seemed to be in bloom from Cliff Goldenbush to Sticky Snakeweed or Acton Ecelia. Not sure of all the names! More lovely patches of flowers were found along the Buttress Houser area trail, in the Real Hidden Valley.

April 14, 2017 Bill reports: These were taken April 12, 2017, from the Joshua Tree entrance up to just before Jumbo Rocks. Names of the flowers are in the files names, when ID was possible.

No superbloom in the park, but still plenty of Desert Dandelion and Brittlebush.

April 13, 2017 Tania reports: Taken 4/11/17 at Joshua Tree, there are many red cacti flowers between Skull Rock and Hall of Horrors.

April 13, 2017 Ross reports: Here are some photos taken Monday 4-10-2017 around the North-West entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. The first mile or two into the park has abundant blooming plants after that the color is sparse. I went looking for the cactus blooms and i feel very satisfied with the results.

April 13, 2017 Margie reports: We have spent March 28 - April 11 at Joshua Tree National Park. Its bloom has improved everyday, and I believe is nearing the peak. I have identified over 80 species of blooming flowers, shrubs, and cacti.

Cholla Cactus Garden is beginning to bloom. The Desert Senna and Indigo bushes there on a hot day are so fragrant. Sacred Datura is blooming from the Garden up to the higher elevations. West along the road there are hillsides of Sand Blazing Star.

The Keys View Road near Juniper Flats has spectacular fields of Wallace Woolly Daisy, Coreopsis, Desert Poppy, and Desert Dandelion amongst the Joshua Trees.

All of the nature trails have beautiful diversity of flowers: Hidden Valley, Cap Rock, Indian Cove, Split Mountain Loop, Skull Rock, and the Discovery Trail. The road to 29 Palms is lined with Desert Dandelion, Desert Pincushion, Goldenbush, Creosote, etc.

Beavertail, Silver Cholla, Calico, and Mohave Mound Cacti are blooming as well as Mohave Yucca and Nolina. Just a few Joshua Trees are blooming still.

April 12, 2017 Barbara reports: Joshua continues to bloom. The Ocotillo Patch is gorgeous. FIddlenecks throughout the park are ready to burst.

April 10, 2017 Nicole reports: I took these photos 4/9/17 in the Indian Cove area of Twentynine Palms. I would love to know the names of them, other than the barrel cactus, if that's possible.

April 10, 2017 John reports: Blooms are found all over the park, the lower elevations are flooded with different shades of yellow. The ocotillo are as nice as I have seen - peak bloom in many areas. I would raise the status bar a notch - do not delay if you are planning to go out - the lowest elevations are past their peak.

Spring Blooming Periods

Lower Elevations: 1,000 – 3,000 feet

Yuccas—March and April
Annuals—February, March, and April
Cacti—March, April, and May

Higher Elevations: 3,000 – 5,000 feet

Joshua Trees and Yuccas—March and April
Annuals—March, April, and May
Cacti—April, May, and June

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When will the desert wildflowers bloom? We start our report in January, plan your visit to coincide with the peak of the bloom - keep up to date with DesertUSA's Wildflower Reports. Be sure to bookmark this page for weekly updates.

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Photos tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.

Wildflower Field Guide page.

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