Book 16, Question 55
Why Do Desert Wildflowers Bloom All at Once After a Rare Rain?
Desert wildflowers bloom all at once because rain wakes up millions of seeds together! The seeds wait in the soil for enough water and mild weather. Then the whole land turns into a carpet of color.
More fun facts
- Desert wildflower seeds can wait in the ground until enough rain falls.
- Then they quickly sprout, grow, bloom and make new seeds before the heat returns.
- In 2016, heavy rain led to a rare super bloom that carpeted Death Valley with Desert Gold flowers.
- The wildflowers start to wilt once temperatures reach about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In Chile's Atacama, a flowering desert called desierto florido happens about once every five to seven years.
Sources: National Park Service, Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic
Questions kids ask
What is a super bloom?
It is when desert wildflowers bloom all at once after heavy rain. In 2016, one carpeted Death Valley with Desert Gold flowers.