DISCOVER MAGAZINE - Superblooms are what their name implies: an extreme, higher-than-normal blooming of wildflowers. The rare phenomenon is nearly exclusive to the deserts of California and almost only emerges in California state or national parks, such as Death Valley National Park, according to National Geographic.
Superblooms are kickstarted by “a regular series of soaking rains, starting in October and extending through February, following multiple years of drought and little or no flowers,” according to the University of California-Riverside. Cooler weather can also help the longevity of superblooms.
However, excessive rain doesn’t always lead to superblooms, as desert annuals (plants that grow there yearly) can disrupt the growth of other wildflowers. Additionally, a type of grass called bromes can grow quickly in the area and prevent wildflower growth.
It is also important to note that the term, “superbloom” was coined by the media, not ecologists or botanists. According to Richard Minnich, a professor of Earth sciences at the University of California-Riverside, a superbloom is “all in the eye of the beholder.”