Visiting the various flower fields during spring and summer is one of my favorite activities to do in California. Starting February through August, one can find a variety of flower fields all around California. This is your comprehensive guide to finding the most beautiful flower fields and wildflowers in California including wild poppies, yellow mustards, jacarandas, lavenders, sunflowers and many more!
Before we dive into it
please be respectful of nature and the surroundings. Follow the trails, do not trespass, trample, stomp or pick the flowers. Always be mindful and respectful.
The mustard fields in wine country are the first signal of spring in California. You can spot the mustards in the vineyards all over the wine country including Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles. Did you know mustards act as natural bio-fumigant? It is one of the reasons they are planted in the vineyards and are a beautiful sight to see!
Half Moon Bay yellow wildflowers
Yellow wildflowers in Half Moon Bay
Best time to visit: February – March
Drive along hwy 1 near Half Moon Bay and you are guaranteed to find bright yellow wildflowers on coastal trails and surrounding fields. I love taking the Cowell-Purisma coastal trail to see carpets of wildflowers and breathtaking ocean views. In addition to Half Moon Bay, there are several wildflower fields and trails in the Bay Area if you are interested in checking out.
Almond blossoms
Best time to visit: mid-February – mid-March
Next up in the blossom season are the white almond blossoms that bloom around the multitude of orchards in Central and Northern California. California produces an insane amount of almonds so it is not that hard to find these orchards all around Central Valley. I have all the details about finding the most beautiful almond blossoms here.
Pink peach blossoms
Pink peach blossoms
Peach orchards, Brentwood
Best time to visit: mid-February – mid-March
Did you know that peach and nectarine blossoms are pink in color and look stunning during spring? I recently learned about this and had to check them out myself and let me tell you, the pink peach blossoms are so beautiful and almost resemble cherry blossoms. You can find pretty pink peach and nectarine blossoms in Fresno (follow the Fresno Blossom Trail) and in Brentwood.
Calla Lillies, Big Sur
Best time to visit: mid-February – mid-March
The Calla Lily valley is a hidden gem in Big Sur and one of the prettiest sights you will see. A short trail leads to a field of wild Calla Lillies with beautiful ocean views. Make sure to visit early to avoid crowds. You also need to time your visit as the season is so short and can vary depending on the rainfall.
Garrapata State Park wildflowers
Garrapata State Park wildflowers, Big Sur
Best time to visit: May-June
Another pretty trail for gorgeous wildflowers is Garrapata State Park. It is a stone’s throw away from the Calla Lily valley but the wildflowers bloom a few months later in May. This is one of my favorite trails in Big Sur to see wildflowers.
Santa Cruz wildflowers
Pink wildflowers at Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz
Best time to visit: May-June
Many coastal trails are covered with wildflowers during spring in California. May is a perfect time to see the beautiful flowers that come in all kind of colors like pink, yellow and orange. Wilder Ranch state park in Santa Cruz is one of my favorites to spot these flowers.
Jacarandas
Jacarandas, San Jose
Purple Jacarandas
Best time to visit: May-June
Jacarandas are native to South America (Argentina) and it is a surprise that they are found in California but hey, lucky us! My favorite place to find Jacarandas is Tamien Station in San Jose. I went here last year and it was purple heaven. There are several streets that are full of purple jacarandas in Los Angeles and Orange County. Instagram is your best resource to find them.
Lavender fields
Lavender fields, Sebastopol
Best time to visit: May – June
You do not need to go to Provence to see beautiful lavender fields. There are many gorgeous lavender fields here in California with that bloom early summer. Check out this detailed post about where to find the best lavender fields in California. My top 3 favorites are Araceli farms in Dixon, Monte-bellaria di California in Sebastopol and 123 Farm in Cherry Valley.
Sunflower fields
Sunflower fields, Northern California
Dixon sunflower fields
Best time to visit: July
I finally got to see these sunflower fields in California last year and let me tell you, they are so gorgeous and beautiful. Make sure to visit during golden hour and check out my blogpost that includes 8 best sunflower fields in California WITH location details.
San Francisco Botanical Gardens
Best time to visit: May – August
What better place to see spring flowers than a botanical garden. San Francisco Botanical Gardens has hundreds of species of plants that bloom in spring and summer and are so pretty to look at and photograph.
Bougainvillea bloom
Pink Bougainvillea, Santa Barbara
Bougainvillea in Carmel
Pink Bougainvillea, Santa Monica
Best time: June – September
Bougainvilleas are one of my favorite flowers and instantly transport me to a sunny Mediterranean island. I do not have a specific location for these but you will find them in many cities in California during summer. I found pink bougainvilleas in several places like my neighborhood in San Jose, Carmel, Santa Barbara and Santa Monica. You just need to pay attention to your surroundings and look around.
Carrizo Plain National Monument
Yellow and pink flowers, Carrizo Plain National Monument
Best time to visit: May – June
Carrizo Plain National Monument is one of the best places in Central California to see the superbloom with rolling hills covered in yellow, purple and pink. Do note that the area is about 60 miles long and there are no gas stations once you enter. Also, don’t be like me and stop at the first sight of sparsely populated flower fields. Drive farther along and you will find more beautiful rolling hills covered in flowers. Check out my other post about best places to see superbloom near Bay Area.
Fresno blossom trail
Best time to visit: February – March
Fresno County’s Blossom Trail is an awesome place to see spring flowers in full bloom. The blossom trail is also about 60 miles long and needs driving around to find the best orchards full of almond, peach, nectarine and apple blossoms. Please be mindful as they are privately owned.
Lompoc flower fields
Lompoc flower fields
Best time to visit: April – September
Lompoc flower fields are some of the most beautiful fields you will find in Santa Barbara County. They bloom April through September and cover a variety of flowers like Stock, Larkspur, Delphinium, Queen Annes Lace and Bells of Ireland. Do note that these are privately owned and you are not allowed to walk in the fields. Check the city’s website for updates on the bloom season.
Walker Canyon at Lake Elsinore
Walker Canyon superbloom
Best time to visit: March – April
2 years ago, thanks to abundant rainfall, there was a crazy superbloom of wild poppies at Walker Canyon. I am sure you must have seen these all over Instagram and even on the news. The rolling hills of Walker Canyon are filled with California poppies during spring and it is one of the most beautiful things you will see in California. Do note that it does not happen every year. So keep an eye out for the superbloom during spring!
The flower fields at Carlsbad
Flower fields, Carlsbad
Best time to visit: March – May
The flower fields at Carlsbad are one of the most popular fields in Southern California. Every year, Instagrammers and tourists flock these fields for colorful floral photos. These fields are popular and can get really crowded. It is recommended to go during weekdays or early hours of weekend to avoid crowds.
Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve
Poppy bloom at Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve
Best time to visit: March – May
Antelope Valley is a California Reserve in Los Angeles County. During spring, it is filled with beautiful orange poppies (also known as California poppies). The reserve has 7 miles worth of trails, so one can easily spend a day exploring the valley full of poppies. Make sure you keep an eye out for the peak blooming season.
Joshua Tree National Park
Wildflowers at Joshua Tree National Park
Best time to visit: February – April
Joshua Tree National Park is another great place to see wildflower fields during spring. They start blooming at lower elevations in February and higher elevations during months of March and April. You can find flowers like Mojave Aster, Datura, Canterbury bells, Evening Primrose, Mariposa Lillies and so many others in the national park. This is another place where the blooms do not happen every year.
Diamond Valley Lake wildflowers
Superbloom at Diamond Valley Lake
Best time to visit: March – April
Last but not the least, Diamond Valley Lake wildflower trail is another beautiful place to find wildflowers during superbloom. Do note that it does not happen every year and entirely dependent on the rainfall during winter. The wildflower trail that is less than 2 miles long and takes you through the most beautiful flowers in all colors.
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So that’s a wrap! Hope you get to enjoy spring flower fields in California this year and if we are lucky, there will be a superbloom soon! If you are looking for other getaways in California, be sure to take a look at my other blogposts!
If you have any questions about these flower fields, DM me on Instagram or comment below.
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Hi there!
I am Aswani Kurra.I am an engineer, dreamer and part-time wanderlust, writer and wine lover. I always had an urge to write, create and travel. So I created this space to satisfy my creative itch and combine all my skills to help you plan your Charming Escape.
Beeeeautiful!! I have loved all your posts about visiting the super blooms and the various blossoms. I love how beautiful they all can be! They are all stunning, but the Jacarandas are probably my favourite. I have only seen them in Kenya previously, but I ove they way they brighten up the whole area. 🙂
Thanks a lot Josy! I love Jacarandas too and so glad I found them close to where I live. I first saw them in Buenos Aires and didn’t know they existed in California! 😀
Definitely saving this post! All of these locations are gorgeous! I live in Oakland and I am hoping to visit the sunflower and lavender fields this spring. Thank you for the tips and where to find them!
Omg I didn’t realize almond blossoms were so pretty. And I’ve never seen bougainvillea in that shade of red before! Stunning photos, and love your outfit in each one of them. 😍
Beeeeautiful!! I have loved all your posts about visiting the super blooms and the various blossoms. I love how beautiful they all can be!
They are all stunning, but the Jacarandas are probably my favourite. I have only seen them in Kenya previously, but I ove they way they brighten up the whole area. 🙂
Thanks a lot Josy! I love Jacarandas too and so glad I found them close to where I live. I first saw them in Buenos Aires and didn’t know they existed in California! 😀
I totally missed some of these last time I was in wine country! Well, will have to go back.
Yes! Wine country during spring is magical! 🙂
Definitely saving this post! All of these locations are gorgeous! I live in Oakland and I am hoping to visit the sunflower and lavender fields this spring. Thank you for the tips and where to find them!
Oh you will love them! I visited last year and had so much fun! 🙂
These photos are such a visual feast! 😍
Thank you! 🙂 🙂
It looks like there are a lot of beautiful fields to visit during the spring time! Thanks for sharing this great list.
Glad you liked them! Thanks a lot Krista!
Omg I didn’t realize almond blossoms were so pretty. And I’ve never seen bougainvillea in that shade of red before! Stunning photos, and love your outfit in each one of them. 😍
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the post! 🙂
This flower fields beyond my limits
Its really looking amazing ‘
Am going to mad to enjoy thsee places
Thank you so much
Hope you get to see them sometime!