Death Valley National Park is experiencing an extraordinary wildflower bloom, with officials reporting an “above-average bloom year” that is approaching superbloom levels. The rare phenomenon, which typically occurs once a decade, has blanketed miles of the arid landscape in vibrant yellow and purple flowers.
The bloom follows record-breaking rainfall last autumn in one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. The park’s acting deputy superintendent, Abby Wines, told the Pahrump Valley Times that while the display is not yet a fully developed superbloom, “we’re heading in that direction.” The last superbloom in Death Valley occurred in 2016.
Across southern California, other parks are also seeing significant blooms. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which received about 3.5 inches of rain in the last three months, has experienced an explosion of orange, purple and white flowers. While a superbloom has not yet been declared there, the park offers “rewarding and meaningful wildflower experiences.”
In Death Valley, lower-elevation blooms are expected to last through March, with higher elevations flowering from April to June. Superblooms often attract large crowds and become viral online, and social media users have already begun sharing photos and videos of the vivid expanses.
