Sonoma in bloom: a springtime wildflower guide

Spring has arrived, and Sonoma County’s hills are bursting with color! Now is the perfect time to get outside and explore. In this edition, we’re sharing the best places to see wildflowers, guides to help you identify them, and resources to make your spring outings fun and easy for the whole family. Grab your hiking boots and a field guide—wildflower season has returned! 

Sonoma in bloom: a springtime wildflower guide

Wildflowers are among the most telling signs that spring has arrived. Across Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties, we have over 350 wildflower species to discover. Here are some of our favorite wildflowers and where you can find them this spring.  

As the state flower of California, the flashy California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) can be found blooming along roadsides, in ditches, and across open grasslands. There is also a related variety right here in Sonoma County! The Tufted Poppy (Eschscholzia caespitosa) lacks the pink disc beneath its brilliant orange petals and prefers chaparral habitats. We recommend the Horseshoe Cove Overlook Trail at Bodega Head for observing these cheerful blooms. They thrive in disturbed soil, so you may also find them in unexpected spots along the road. 

In Sonoma County, we’re lucky to have two species of the woodland star–the Hillside woodland star (Lithophragma heterophyllum) and the San Francisco woodland star (Lithophragma affine). Sometimes, they can be found just feet apart on the same trail! You can tell them apart by the shape of the ovum (under the flower): Hillside woodland stars have square-shaped ovum while the San Francisco woodland star has pointy-shaped ovum. ​The Sonoma Valley Trail at Sonoma Valley Regional Park is a family-friendly, paved pathway where you’re likely to see this dainty flower. Pay special attention to areas where the stream approaches the trail, as you might also encounter monkeyflowers, buttercups, sun cups, and larkspur. The Creekside Trail in Shiloh Ranch Regional Park is also an excellent spot to search for both species of woodland star. 

Bird’s-eye gilia (Gilia tricolor) blooms from March through May and is prominent on the slopes of Lawson Trail in Hood Mountain Regional Park. This white and purplish flower prefers open, wet areas rather than dry meadows. They often have a sweet scent similar to chocolate, or some say a musky scent known to thrive in areas recently affected by fire, as its seeds often require smoke or heat for germination. 

Look for Seep monkeyflower (Erythranthe guttata) and Magnificent seep monkeyflower (Erythanthe grandis) from now until May. Wet, north-facing roads and trail embankments may feature these shade-loving blooms. Consider exploring the beach cliffs around Bodega Bay and the Sonoma Coast, as well as the inland trails at Hood Mountain Regional Park, Trione-Annadel State Park, North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park, and Sonoma Valley Regional Park. The main difference between these species is size: the Magnificent seep monkeyflower grows along the coast in Sonoma and when it comes to size, it ​​has double the flowers and foliage! 

California Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia californica) has a bulbous shape and purple-striped flowers that you can see right now. Be aware that the flowers emit a mildly unpleasant odor, which helps attract certain pollinators, specifically carrion-feeding insects. Pipevine swallowtails (Battus philenor) lay their eggs on the underside of this plant’s leaves. Once they hatch, the caterpillars feed on those leaves until they metamorphose. For a unique pocket park experience, visit Ag + Open Space’s Paulin Creek Preserve and look for this woody vine. You may also have luck finding this bloom at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and Trione-Annadel State Park.   

You can see wildflowers in many places this spring. Get your wildflower guide if you haven’t already, and you’ll be all set to hike and explore some of our favorite wildflower spots in Sonoma County. For a guided adventure, register today for our upcoming wildflower hikes at sonomalandtrust.org/outings