March 13, 2026
Welcome to the Theodore Payne Foundation’s Wild Flower Hotline. I’m Tom Henschel. The Hotline offers weekly on-line and recorded updates on the best locations for viewing spring wildflowers in Southern and Central California. All locations are on easily accessible public lands and range from urban to wild, distant to right here in L.A.
One of the best landscapes representing California’s tectonic past is found within the spirals of rock and cliffs that give Pinnacles National Park its name. Over the millennia, oak woodlands, chaparral, grasslands, and riparian plant communities have emerged and now host a diversity of flora and fauna. Depending on the trail you choose, lovely spring flowers can be seen. Look for the dainty, pink California hedge nettle in the shade of mature trees of riparian habitat. Silver bush lupines on the other hand, grow in sunny, open areas where they tend to form low mounds of flowering bushes. If you are hiking the High Peaks Trail, elegant Clarkia grows in a variety of ecosystem types, but most often in woodland areas or chaparral. Western wallflower stands out along the trail with its bright orange flowers sitting high atop this plant’s long stem. Fiesta flowers, both blue and white species can be found in partially shady patches tucked under trees and shrubs. Look up to the sky, and you might spot a rare California condor soaring above.

Hike the Froom Creek Trail at Irish Hills Natural Reserve in San Luis Obispo County to
walk through stands of black sage in full bloom and experience the breathtaking aroma of Coastal Sage Scrub. Coast morning glory is replete with whimsical, pink, 2-inch blossoms. Hummingbird sage is busy attracting its namesake pollinator. Ceanothus, monkey flower, and deerweed have bountiful fragrant blossoms. Endemic to this region is the Ojai fritillary, a cousin of the chocolate lily, but even more dramatic in appearance if you can believe it. Woodland star, chaparral pea, Padre’s shooting star, blue eyed grass, and star lily complete this cast of beauties. Take a detour up the Poppy Trail to find bush poppy in profuse bloom.

It’s hard not to feel an air of solemnity on the drive to Will Rogers State Historic Park, in the Santa Monica Mountains. You will pass the former site of vibrant homes, lost in the Palisades Fire. The area is an extremely dynamic landscape after the fire, and heavy rainfall this winter caused additional damage to the area. Park staff are working hard to make trails affected by the burn and subsequent wash-outs safe again. Please obey all closures to protect yourselves and park staff. You’ll find most wildflowers are blooming along the main Inspiration Loop Trail. Take heart though, for upon setting foot in the park you will see that nature is working its magic to heal the landscape and ecological succession is well on its way. Shades of yellow and gold dominate the recovering landscape with California bush sunflower, bush poppy, deerweed, sticky monkeyflower, golden yarrow, canyon sunflower, coastal lotus, Chaparral lotus, and the prolific, common fire-follower, whispering bells. Blue, purple, and pink flowers are scattered throughout this yellow palette and include giant-flowered phacelia, sticky phacelia, stinging lupine, blunt leaved lupine, blue dicks, Braunton's milk vetch, and purple nightshade. A few pink and white blossoms belonging to morning glory, cryptantha, cliff aster, and Catalina mariposa lily are sprinkled through the landscape as well. You will not find much shade following the fire so be sure to bring lots of water and wear sun protection. Be mindful and safe while hiking. 
Located at the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada, Red Rock Canyon State Park  features scenic, vividly colored cliffs, buttes, and spectacular rock formations. Hike the Red Cliffs Nature Trail to see the little Red Rock Canyon monkeyflower that only occurs here. It is not as profuse as other years, but it is in bloom. Look for bright royal blue chia mixed with yellow desert dandelion. The blue-yellow color combo makes for a spectacular display. Scattered about are pincushion flower, goldfields, seep monkeyflower, Booth’s evening primrose, yellow pepper cress, and desert evening primrose. Driving further north on Highway 14, bright yellow brittle bush and coral colored desert mallow are just coming into bloom along the road.
Located south of Riverside in the Gavilan Hills area and near Lake Matthews, you can explore the magnificent Harford Springs Reserve. Here, hikers can traverse over 300 acres of land that sits on a plateau 2,000 feet above sea level. Oaks found in riparian habitat, stately California junipers growing among the jumble of boulders and rocks, and a nice variety of spring wildflowers on trails that lace around the park, make this place a true hidden gem. If you are an avid nature photographer, the Reserve is the perfect place to practice your hobby, capturing the abundance of flora and fauna and epic views on “film”.  Abundant flowers to be seen along the trails now include California poppies and goldfields. There are good numbers of cream cups, miniature lupine, popcornflower, baby blue eyes, California sun cup, Chinese houses, and manystemed woolly sunflower.
That’s it for this week’s report. Visit theodore payne dot org to see photos of these and more wildflower sites shared this week. 
Don’t forget to buy your tickets for the Native Plant Garden Tour, taking place April 11th and 12th. Tickets are available online at store dot theodore payne dot org, in-store at Theodore Payne Foundation Sun Valley, or in-store at Los Nogales Nursery.
The next report will be available on Friday, March 20th.