Superbloom

About

Superbloom takes its name from a rare desert botanical phenomenon, primarily occurring in California and Arizona. A superbloom happens when an unusually large proportion of wildflower seeds, which have remained dormant in desert soil, germinate and blossom at approximately the same time. This striking natural event is triggered by an unusually wet rainy season that awakens these long-sleeping seeds. The term itself likely developed as a label during the 1990s. Similar phenomena also take place annually during the wet season along the arid west coast of South Africa, particularly between Cape Town and Namaqualand, where notable occurrences happen at nature reserves including the West Coast National Park and Goegap Nature Reserve. The name reflects the explosive flourishing of life that characterizes this remarkable natural occurrence.