Anza-Borrego Wildflowers Lite

The Anza-Borrego Desert is part of the Colorado Desert, which is a subdivision of the larger Sonoran Desert.

This guide covers (partially as it is the lite version):
The Anza-Anza-Borrego Desert SP, Cuyamaca Rancho SP, Imperial Sand Dunes (Algodones Dunes),
Jacumba, Laguna Mountain, Ocotillo Wells SVRA, Santa Ysabel, San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area,
Warner Springs and surrounding areas

This is a free guide to the basics of identifying over 100 of the most common wildflowers in the Anza-Borrego Desert. Pictures show the characteristics you need, including colors, flowers, leaves, stems, branches, and more.



Optionally, you can purchase the complete guide (for a small fee): Our separate Borrego Wildflower Guide has descriptions, keys, scientific names and families, and thousands of pictures, for nearly 1300 wildflowers. Browse by common or scientific name. Select a single family. Search options include partial name, scientific name, or family.

Is the guide complete?


The guide is as complete as we can make it at this time. We are constantly adding new flowers after our almost daily desert walks.
But we are probably missing hundreds of less common plants and flowers, but we will find them one day.

When is the flower season?

The annual wildflower season peaks from early February to late April. This is followed by a parade of perennials through the summer and fall and into the following year.
Rainfall can be very localized; it has to fall at just the right time and in just the right amount.

Is every wildflower season the same? No. Rainfall and temperatures vary from year to year and from place to place in the desert. Elevation is also an important factor. Keep in mind that the Anza-Borrego Desert region ranges from well below 1,000 feet to over 5,000 feet. The first flowers appear at the lower elevations and move higher in the spring.
Anza-Borrego is part of the Colorado Desert, which is part of the larger Sonoran Desert.

Where can I get more information?
Our Facebook page and website are a good place to start, if you have any questions let us know.

Have you found something rare or interesting?
We are always interested, let us know A.S.A.P., on our Facebook page, or drop us an email.

Warning:

What will this guide do for you? We hope our guide will help you identify the wildflowers you see, by genus if not by species. It will not make you an expert overnight. Some species, varieties and subspecies are difficult to identify, even for an expert.

Never assume you have the right flower, always check if everything adds up, the most common mistake is to ID a flower just by appearance and end up with a wrong conclusion.

If in doubt, just post an observation on iNaturalist and ask for @efmer on post it on our Facebook page and we or someone else will be happy to help you.