One of the signs that winter is letting go of its hold on the area is when desert peaches start to color the high desert different shades of pink and fuchsia. And here’s good news—they’ve started to bloom.
Where are the desert peaches and other Northern Nevada wildflowers blooming now? Read on to find out.
Desert Peaches and Bitterbrush
Over by Water Tower Hill in the Gardnerville Ranchos, the desert peaches are peaking as of March 25. Usually, they bloom before the bitterbrush, but this year, in this location, both flowers are the stars of the show, and the bitterbrush is also at peak.
The pink of the desert peaches and the yellow of the bitterbrush make for a timely display of Easter colors.
Over by the Fay Luther Trail in Gardnerville, the desert peaches are mostly just budding as of March 23, but there is one bush that’s in full bloom. Take the main trail to where it veers off to the right (as if you’re hiking to the Job’s Peak Trailhead). The desert peaches are a little ways up that trail. You’ll also find some along the first ¼ mile stretch of the main trail. Expect the desert peach flowers in this location to open up around March 28.
In addition, a few yellow bitterbrush are getting an early start on the Fay Luther. However, the full bitterbrush bloom may not happen until around March 30 – April 5 since some of the plants are lagging behind.
A few patches of desert peaches were blooming off Pine Nut Road, on the right as you’re heading up to the Pinyon Trail when we were there on March 20. They’re also starting to bloom by Mud Lake as of Saturday, March 21. One of the best displays we’ve seen in previous years is on the Forest Service Road that parallels the Bentley Ranch above Mud Lake.
You can learn more about desert peaches and why they’re called desert peaches in our blog post from a few years ago. As you’ll notice from that blog post, they’re blooming a lot earlier this year compared to some past years.
Where Can You Find Phlox in Northern Nevada?
Carpets of mostly pink phlox are blooming in the Pine Nuts east of Gardnerville. People with a four-wheel drive, higher clearance vehicle can venture carefully on Pine Nut Road past the Pinyon Trail. Park a little ways before the stream crossing, then hike across the stream and up the road. We turned right on the first partially overgrown track after we crossed the stream. The phlox grew alongside and on the road. Western kingbirds chattered at us as we walked past.
A wildfire badly damaged this area a few years ago, but it’s nice to see both the vegetation and the birds returning.
You’ll also find phlox on the Fay Luther Trail in three places:
- Take a right .3 mile in to the hike (as if you’re heading towards the Job’s Peak Trailhead), then walk about .7 mile to where they grow on both sides of the trail. These phlox are usually the first to bloom compared to those in the other two areas.
- Or follow the Sandy Trail straight up from the parking lot for .8 miles and take a right on the Interpretive Loop. Not long after you turn on to the loop, look down the hill on your left and you’ll see them.
- Keep hiking up the Interpretive Loop until you reach the Grand View Trail. Turn right on the Grand View Trail and head straight. When the phlox are blooming you’ll see them on the right.
We were not able to hike up to the phlox on the Fay Luther, but with the warm weather, they’ll probably be blooming soon, if they’re not already.
Where to Find Wild Peonies
These are nothing like the peonies that grow in gardens. They’re smaller and less showy. But it’s always a delight to see them growing amid the sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and Indian tea over by Mud Lake. To me, they look more like a plant you’d expect to see in the tropics than in the desert.
As of Saturday, March 21, the wild peonies on the dirt road above Mud Lake had buds. They looked like they were ready to open any day now.
I’m also told that wild peonies grow by the college in Carson City and by the Visitor Center in Galena Park in Reno.
You can see what a wild peony bloom looks like, in this previous blog post
Have you seen wildflowers blooming in Northern Nevada recently? Let us know in the comments where and when you saw them.
Nevada Wildflower Report March 26, 2026
Phlox – Blooming in the Pine Nut Mountains past the Pine Nut Trail.
Desert Peaches and Bitterbrush – Currently at peak as of March 25 on Water Tower Hill in the Gardnerville Ranchos. Just starting on Mud Lake Road and Fay Luther Trail as of March 23. A few bushes on Pine Nut Road are starting. Expect the desert peaches to bloom through at least April 1. The bitterbrush bloom could last through at least April 5.
Wild Peony – Buds about to open as of March 21 on the Forest Service road near Mud Lake. Unsure of the status of the blooms by the college in Carson City and by the Visitor Center at Galena. Please post in the comments if you’ve seen any there.
