Desert sand verbena in Anza-Borrego

Abronia villosa

Desert sand verbena usually blooms from late November to early April in Anza-Borrego, with the best color from late February into late March.

late November – early April Best: late February into late March Out of season

The show usually starts around late November. Check back closer to the season.

Based on reports from iNaturalist naturalists. 2,445 flowering reports from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park shape this curve. The shaded band marks the best weeks; the dashed line is this week.

Where to see them

The magenta half of Borrego's famous purple-and-yellow sand carpets. It hugs the sandy flats and washes, and it smells better than it has any right to.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Henderson Canyon Road (public road, Borrego Springs)

We name public reserves, parks, and roads only — never exact pins, never private land.

Nearby on the calendar

Desert gold in Anza-Borrego — best early March into late March
Dune evening primrose in Anza-Borrego — best early March into late March
Desert lilies in Anza-Borrego — best late February into mid-March

Updated August 14, 2026. Bloom timing varies with the year's weather — the curve shows the usual rhythm, and in-season updates sharpen it.