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BloomTracker Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz

RESPECT WILDFLOWERS PLEDGE

By using this resource you agree to this simple Respect Wildflowers Pledge to Recreate Responsibly and “Don't Doom the Bloom!” Wildflowers and the habitats that they occupy can be very sensitive. Follow these steps to make sure that wildflower areas stay open to public access, that you enjoy your visit, and that these beautiful blooms return year after year:

When soils become compacted, it can prevent the next generation of wildflowers from blooming! Though it may be tempting to take photos among a big patch of flowers, it can mean that those flowers won’t be there to take photos of next year. Remember, photos from the trail can be just as good as the ones taken from the middle of a patch of wildflowers!
Though you may want to take home memories of your beautiful visit with the wildflowers, please only do so through your camera lens. Cut wildflowers will wilt quickly and cannot be transplanted into your garden.
Even though rules are sometimes disappointing, they prevent the bigger disappointment of natural resources disappearing or being damaged. Not sure what the rules are? Make sure to know before you go, by checking the park or preserve’s official website.
Most of these areas do not have garbage cans, so be prepared to carry your trash out. No one wants to see litter on the ground, and it can be harmful to wildlife too (including organic materials, like banana and orange peels).
Popular spots are often popular for a reason, but consider lessening your impact on the parks and preserves with the heaviest traffic. Visit on a weekday if possible. Go early in the day. Also consider visiting earlier or later in the season. There are some amazing flowers that aren’t seen as often because they bloom earlier or later than peak season!
We know everyone wants to have their own experience but be aware of and appreciate those around you. We are in this together as one nature loving community.
Wildflowers are an amazing and beautiful natural resource. Consider learning more about the flowers that you see and how to help preserve the beautiful open spaces that are providing this resource to you.

Map: Click the play button to view public parks and preserves currently identified as having significant and/or interesting wildflower blooms at this time. Get details in the list below the map.

Page last updated: October 22, 2024, 10:33 AM (iNaturalist images automatically update - check the “Observed” date for photo recency)

SEASONAL WILDFLOWER OVERVIEW (Weekly updates in spring!)

October 22, 2024— Mid-Fall Wildflowers As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp in the Bay Area and Santa Cruz Mountains, many plants have already gone dormant, but a few resilient species continue to bloom, offering a vibrant last burst of color before winter. From the fluffy blooms of coyote brush to the bright red blossoms of California fuchsia, these late bloomers provide essential nectar and shelter for pollinators and wildlife during the demanding autumn months. Whether it's the golden hue of California goldenrod or the soft lavender of seaside daisies, these fall bloomers remind us that nature’s beauty persists even as the seasons shift. Read more about about mid to late fall wildflowers.

STAY BLOOMED! Click here to subscribe to BloomTracker email updates! We post weekly wildflower updates in the spring and occasional updates throughout the rest of the year. Plenty of plants wait until fall is around the corner to bloom. For example, California fuchsia blooms from August to October and coyote brush’s small white flowers don’t appear until late September. Late blooming wildflowers provide food for our native pollinators once all of the other blooms have long since withered. AND you don’t want to miss the weekly updates coming for the 2025 spring wildflower season! Sign up to stay bloomed!

SAN MATEO COUNTY

Overview: The large diversity of habitats at Edgewood County Park means that there are many different places for different species of flowering plants to thrive well into fall. At Edgewood you can find many kinds of blooming buckwheats (Eriogonum sp.), including the naked buckwheat (Erigonum nudum), wicker buckwheat (Erigonum luteolum) and California buckwheat (Erigonum cafasciculatum). You can also find various tarweeds (Hemizonia sp.) and Madias still blooming throughout the preserve. Keep an eye out for California fuchsia (Epilobium canum), Pacific aster (Symphyotrichum chilense), panicled willowherb (Epilobium brachycarpum), and coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis).
Trail Tips: Check out the Live Oak Trail and Ridgeview trail to see buckwheats, tarflowers and madias. You can find coyote brush and panicled willowherb throughout the preserve.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve
Alternative Parks: Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve, Crystal Springs Regional Trail, Thornewood Open Space Preserve
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

iNaturalist

Overview: This preserve has a nice blend of forest, grassland, and patches of serpentine, which means there are so many different wildflowers for you to see here in every season. The current highlight of this preserve is the masses of blooming coyote brush that can be found throughout. You can also find California fuchsia (Epilobium canum), panicled willowherb (Epilobium brachycarpum), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), buckwheats (Erigonum sp.) and more.
Trail Tips: The Polly Geraci and Dick Bishop Trails have the largest concentration of late-blooming wildflowers in Pulgas Ridge Preserve.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve
Alternative Parks: Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve, Sweeney Ridge Open Space Preserve, Crystal Springs Regional Trail
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

iNaturalist

Overview: San Bruno Mountain is host to many different late fall wildflowers. This preserve is one of the best places to go if you want to find the warm golden hues of California goldenrod (Solidago californica). You can also find the blooms of pearly everlasting (Anaphalis magaritacea), California fuchsia (Epilobium canum), coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), wand mullein (Verbascum virgatum) and Pacific aster (Symphyotrichum chilense).
Trail Tips: The Bog Trail, Dairy Ravine Trail and Summit Loop trail all host a good diversity of late-fall blooms.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): San Bruno Mountain State and County Park
Alternative Parks: Sweeney Ridge Open Space Preserve, Mori Point, Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

iNaturalist

Overview: Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, situated on the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains, is a great place to find late autumn wildflowers. The fog that lingers around the top of the hill preserves wildflowers well into fall. Classic fall blooms like coyote brush and California fuchsia are abundant throughout this preserve. However, you can also find scores of late summer lupine (Lupinus formosus), clockweed (Oenothera lindheimeri), Pacific aster (Symphyotrichum chilense) and more. The blossoms are concentrated near the summit of Windy Hill itself, as that is where the fog tends to collect, however you can find blooms on most trails in the preserve.
Trail Tips: The Anniversary Trail still has an abundance of summer lupine, as well as a diversity of other blooms. The Spring Ridge Trail has a good diversity of flowering plants, as well as a great abundance of coyote brush.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
Alternative Parks: Coal Creek Open Space Preserve, Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, Thornewood Open Space Preserve, La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

iNaturalist
SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Overview: If you are looking to see some late-season tarweeds, Calero County Park is the place to be. There are tons of hayfield tarweeds (Hemizonia congesta) scattered throughout the preserve. You can also find California fuchsia (Epilobium canum), California goldenrod (Solidago californica), panicled willowherb (Epilobium brachycarpum), false goldenasters (Heterotheca sessiliflora), naked buckwheat (Erigonum nudum) and coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis).
Trail Tips: The largest concentration of tarweeds can be found along the Los Cerritos Trail and the Pena Trail. The Serpentine Loop Trail also has a good diversity of blooms.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Calero County Park
Alternative Parks: Almaden Quicksilver County Park, Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, Santa Teresa County Park
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

iNaturalist

Overview: The many miles of trail at Monte Bello Open Space Preserve have many late fall flowers to offer to visitors. Coyote brush is abundant throughout this preserve, as well as California fuchsia (Epilobium canum), madias (Madia sp.) and tarweeds (Hemizonia sp.).You can also find a couple remnant false goldenasters (Heterotheca sessiliflora).
Trail Tips: Bella Vista Trail, Canyon Trail and Stevens Creek Nature Trail are all good places to see late fall blooms.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
Alternative Parks: Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, Foothills Nature Preserve
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

iNaturalist

Overview: Sierra Azul is a very large open space preserve that is split into several different areas. You can find amazing flowers growing all over the preserve, but the most easily accessible collection of wildflowers is near the top of Mount Umunhum. Here you can find loads of California fuchsia (Epilobium canum) as well as vinegarweed (Trichostema lanceolatum), coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), panicled willowherb (Epilobium brachycarpum), and various buckwheats (Erigonum sp.). There are also many beautiful fall berries to be found here, including hollyleaf redberry (Rhamnus ilicifolia) and Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia).
Trail Tips: Head straight to the top of the mountain and look for flowers around the Native American Ceremonial Circle. Then take the Mount Umunhum Trail to find more flowers, including woodland species.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve (Mount Umunhum)
Alternative Parks: St. Joseph’s Hill Open Space Preserve, Almaden Quicksilver County Park, Sierra Vista Open Space, Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

iNaturalist
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Overview: The many varied habitats at this park mean that there are many different species of wildflowers still in bloom. In addition to the usual suspects such as coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis) and California fuchsia (Epilobium canum), Henry Cowell hosts many more unique blooms well into the fall. Right now you can find the tiny threeleaf foamflower (Tiarella trifoliata), California harebell (Smithiastrum prenanthoides) as well as various monkeyflower species (Diplacus sp.) and buckwheat species (Erigonum sp.).
Trail Tips: Pipeline Road has a great diversity of blooms. Eagle Creek Trail also has a great variety of wildflowers.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Alternative Parks: Quail Hollow Ranch County Park, Glenwood Open Space Preserve, Wilder Ranch State Park
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

iNaturalist

Overview: Beaches are a good place to find late season wildflowers as they remain cool and moist well into fall. Natural Bridges State Beach is still sporting a number of wildflowers well into October. You can find California fuchsia (Epilobium canum), yellow sand verbena (Abronia latifolia), Pacific aster (Symphyotrichum chilense), seaside woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum staechadifolium), seaside buckwheat (Erigonum latifolium) and more blooming throughout the park.
Trail Tips: Check out the Moore Creek Trail for a good variety of blooms. Also check out the area where sand and soil meet, as some really interesting blooms tend to grow in that unique habitat.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Lighthouse Field State Beach
Alternative Parks: Lighthouse Field State Beach, Manresa State Beach, Wilder Ranch State Park
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

iNaturalist

Overview: Wilder Ranch is better known for its amazing wildflower diversity during the spring, but there are also plenty of late-blooming wildflowers to find at this park. You can find blooms from seaside buckwheat (Eriogonum latifolium), coastal tarweed (Deinandra corymbosa), California fuchsia (Epilobium canum), and California aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia) and more. There are also tons of blooming coyote brush plants. The blooms of the coyote brush at this preserve tend to take on a more yellow hue, which differs from the usual white to cream tones.
Trail Tips: Take the Enchanted Loop in the upper part of Wilder Ranch or the Wilder Ranch Bluff Trails closer to the ocean to see a good selection of blooms.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Wilder Ranch State Park
Alternative Parks: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Natural Bridges State Beach, Pogonip Open Space
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

iNaturalist

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