Pacific Southwest Region

Eighteen national forests in California make up the national forest lands of the Pacific Southwestern Region of the U.S. Forest Service. Much of the Region is within the California floristic province, unique in the United States for its Mediterranean climate of dry, hot summers and wet or snowy winters. Many wildflowers of the California national forests grow nowhere else in the world. From ancient rock gardens to sagebrush steppes to squishy mountain fens, California's native plants are spectacular!

Regional Information

Wildflower Hot Spots of the Eastern Sierra (PDF, 4.7 MB) Wildflower Hot Spots of the Eastern Sierra highlights the unique ecology, geology, and unparalleled flora along 150 miles of the Eastern Sierra corridor. Twelve wildflower sites have been selected to represent the diversity of environments that are found throughout the Eastern Sierra. Each site features directions, a map, GPS coordinates, a description of the natural history of the area, and photos. Topics you can learn about include plant rarity, disturbance processes, and the many ways people use plants. "Can You Find…?" proposes a fun challenge for you and your family. For a more in-depth look at the species found at each site, use the plant list featured in the back of this guide. Take the time to stop and smell the flowers in this extraordinary Eastern Sierra region!

Rare Plant Conservation Success Stories

• Seed Banking Tracy’s beardtongue (Penstemon tracyi), Meeting Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
• Tahoe yellow cress (Rorippa subumbellata Roll.) Recovery on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
• Who knew? Newly Delimited California Sensitive Plant Gains Protection from Rock Barrier and Informative Sign

Wildflower Photographs