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.

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Check out other flower fields in California

8 best sunflower fields in California (Inc. locations)

Most beautiful almond blossoms in California

11 best lavender fields in California

5 wildflower and flower fields in the Bay Area

5 Best places to see superbloom around Bay Area

Wine country mustards

Mustards in Sonoma County

Best time to visit: February – March

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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