Wildflowers, such as California fuchsia, are slow to bloom this spring at Santa Monica Mountains NRA/NPS

A relatively dry winter season, followed by late-season rainstorms, has slowed the emergence of wildflower blooms at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California.

Normally at this point in the season, wildflowers would be blooming, but so far park rangers report only seeing a few prickly phlox, currants, Indian paintbrush, bush lupine and California brittlebush. 

“The recent rains that we’ve had are encouraging,” said Joey Algiers, a National Park Service restoration ecologist. “What was looking like a bad year for wildflowers could turn around, potentially peaking in mid- to late-April.”

It’s been a confusing winter season for plants, Algiers said. First, it was warm, then it got dry and then it became cold, followed up with frost and heavy rains.

At a weather recording station in Cheeseboro Canyon in Agoura Hills, 7.05 inches of precipitation has been recorded, thus far. Last year, 18.93 inches of rain had fallen by this time.

“The cues are sort of out of whack,” he said. “Plants respond to temperature, water and sunlight cues.”

Ralph Waycott, a volunteer who has been leading hikes through the Backbone Trail for 15 years, says he will typically see 150 or more species in bloom, with sometimes 100 or more species clustered in the most prolific segment.

“There are a few things coming up,” Waycott said, hopefully. “Plants are just now getting to the blooming schedule. They’re late bloomers this year.”

A few of the recommended locations to see wildflowers in the Santa Monica Mountains include Malibu Creek State Park, the China Flat area in Cheeseboro Canyon, and Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park.

For the latest news on the wildflower bloom visit smmflowers.org/whatsblooming or call the visitor center at 805-370-2301.