Bear Brush (Garrya fremontii) starts off the new year in a bizarre manner by blooming in early January at the summit of Mount Diablo. This uncommon evergreen shrub, resembling the evergreen oaks in both leaves and flowers, produces two inch long pale lavender catkins on the male shrubs. Blooming may be triggered by the increasing daylight, as it often blooms in bitter icy cold conditions. The more common Coast Silk-tassel (Garrya elliptica) is easily found between Curry Point and Sycamore Canyon in February and March.

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.) is perhaps the star attraction of December to March. These evergreen shrubs with red bark fill the chaparral (and a few wooded slopes) with delicate white to pink tiny bell-like flowers that attract a great number of insects and an occasional hummingbird. The Mount Diablo Manzanita (Arctostaphylos auriculata) grows only around Mount Diablo and it has the pinkest blossoms of the mountain’s manzanita. It is easily seen around Wall Ridge, Live Oak Campground and also between Curry and Knobcone Point.

Another early bloomer is Chaparral Currant (Ribes malvaceum). This deciduous shrub often begins blooming in late December at lower elevations, finishing at the summit around early May. The flowers are pink and are quite striking when seen in mass. It is easily seen around Knobcone Point and along Summit Road. The similar Gooseberry (Ribes sp.) differs in having thorns and smaller flowers. Mitchell Canyon and the summit area are good places to look for it.

Indian Warrior (Pedicularis densiflora) is a semi-parasitic herbaceous plant of chaparral-pine areas. The red-green leaves with red flowers are a pleasant sight in early March along Wall Ridge or Curry to Knobcone Point. It blooms in April at the summit. The newly opened leaves are pure red in this and many other species as a protection against untra-violet light

Members of the Mustard family are well known early bloomers. Milk Maids (Cardamine californica) are very common just about everywhere on Mount Diablo, often occurring in heavily shaded forests. Their simple white flowers can be common by mid-February at low elevations, finishing at the Fire Interpretive Trail in May.

Grand Hound’s-Tongue (Cynoglossum grande) is a widespread member of the forget-me-not family on Mount Diablo, found mostly in wooded areas of light shade. It has foot- tall flower stalks with powder-blue to violet flowers. It usually is well in bloom by March 1 at lower elevations, and it finishes in late April along the Fire Interpretive Trail.

Buck Brush (Ceanothus cuneatus) is an evergreen shrub that is fire dependent, as it gets crowded out in older stands of chaparral. Its mass of white blossoms (smelling like popcorn) starts in early February along lower South Gate Road, finishing in May at the Fire Interpretive Trail. Jim Brush (Ceanothus oliganthus) is another of the so-called "California Lilacs". It has powder-blue blossoms and blooms from late March through May, commonly on the north side of the mountain.

Very pleasing to the eye in early March is Johnny-Jump-Up (Viola pedunculata). These are golden yellow with black markings and have a striking reddish brown underside. Look for them at Curry Point. Much smaller and more widespread on the mountain is the similar looking Mountain Violet (Viola purpurea), blooming March to May. It is fairly common in the area around the Summit.

Brewer’s Rock Cress (Arabis breweri) is found on rock outcrops from 1200 feet to the summit. Its small, pale green leaves grow in rock crevices and it has beautiful pink to purple flowers that later form curved seed pods. The summit area is the best site to study this species, but also look for it at the Falls Trail in Donner Canyon.

Mosquito-bills (Dodecatheon hendersonii) is the common species of Shooting Star around Mount Diablo. The nodding pink flowers are quite adorable, especially when in mass. The leaves are simple and basal. Look for it from mid February through April, especially in Mitchell Canyon where it is common.

Our state flower, the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) blooms nearly year round, mostly March to October on Mount Diablo. Its lacy gray-green leaves and golden yellow to orange flowers are well known to most Californians. It is generally found in the grasslands below 3500 feet. Check North Gate Road from mid-April to early May for peak mass bloom.

Lastly a species whose world range is central Contra Costa County, the Mount Diablo Fairy Lantern (Calochortus pulchellus). This lily has a flower that looks like a nodding yellow globe. On Mount Diablo it is widespread and found at all elevations, commonly in light woodland or chaparral. Look for it starting in late March in Mitchell Canyon and by the middle of May abundantly at middle elevations. This species’ great beauty and overall rareness have led to its being an unofficial symbol of the mountain.