California is home to some of the world’s most stunning natural scenery and most popular tourist attractions. These include Yosemite National Park, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Joshua Tree National Park, Big Sur, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
In North County San Diego, a lesser-known but mind-blowing attraction has drawn thousands of visitors each year for decades.
Every spring, the Carlsbad Flower Fields open to the public, giving visitors the chance to see vibrant flowers in full bloom. This year, it opens on Saturday, March 1.
The Fields, located right off Interstate 5 and less than a half-mile from the Pacific Ocean, feature various types of flora, including orchids, sweet peas, and even a spot for poinsettias. However, the main attraction remains the famous ranunculus that spans over 50 acres of the property.
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Visitors walk through a field of Giant Ranunculus flowers while viewing The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch on March 16, 2022 in Carlsbad, California. – The flower fields feature approximately 70 million ranunculus blooms across 55 acres on the working agricultural flower farm. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) -
People visit the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, North of San Diego, California, 15 April 2007. The nearly fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers that make up The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are in a full bloom for approximately six to eight weeks each year, from early March through early May. The Tecolote Giant Ranunculus is one of the finest strains of ranunculus plants in the world. The ranunculus flower is native to Asia Minor and is a member of the buttercup family. This unique blossom is also known as a Persian Buttercup or Ranunculus Asiatic. AFP PHOTO/Gabriel BOUYS (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images) -
Visitors take pictures in a field of Giant Ranunculus flowers while viewing The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch on March 16, 2022 in Carlsbad, California. – The flower fields feature approximately 70 million ranunculus blooms across 55 acres on the working agricultural flower farm. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) -
People visit the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, North of San Diego, California, 15 April 2007. The nearly fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers that make up The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are in a full bloom for approximately six to eight weeks each year, from early March through early May. The Tecolote Giant Ranunculus is one of the finest strains of ranunculus plants in the world. The ranunculus flower is native to Asia Minor and is a member of the buttercup family. This unique blossom is also known as a Persian Buttercup or Ranunculus Asiatic. AFP PHOTO/Gabriel BOUYS (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images) -
Couples enjoy the colorful Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch where over 48 acres are full of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers in many colors, circa, August 1, 1983 in Carlsbad, California. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)
What is ranunculus?
Ranunculus are native to Asia Minor, which includes most of modern-day Turkey. They are part of the Buttercup family, which includes over 600 different species.
Each ranunculus has multiple layers of delicate petals, making it voluminous and vibrant in appearance. It is also long-lasting, making it perfect for bouquets and vase displays.
Their colors range from fiery reds and bold purples to pastel pinks, whites and yellows.
Although they are beautiful to look at, ranunculus is known to be toxic to humans and animals when ingested.
Why is the ranunculus the Fields’ main flower?
According to the Fields’ website, a horticulturist named Luther Gage settled in Oceanside in the early 1920s and began growing ranunculus in his fields next to a small vegetable farm owned by Frank Frazee.
Frazee started growing the flowers himself and passed on his operations to his son, Edwin, who eventually moved his ranunculus to the current site in 1965 on land owned by the Ecke family.
Edwin Frazee retired in 1993 and Paul Ecke Jr. brought in Mellano and Company to take over the growing of the ranunculus, the website continues. However, Ecke convinced Frazee to stay on as a consultant.
Ecke died in 2002, followed by Frazee two years later. The two men left a mark on one of San Diego County’s most recognizable attractions.
“Paul’s goal to bring people closer to agriculture and Edwin’s wish to have ranunculus live on beyond his death were achieved. Their presence is felt each spring when the ranunculus bloom into blazing fields of color,” the website states.
Can the ranunculus be grown in a home garden?
Visitors can preserve a memory of their trip to the Fields by growing ranunculus from home.
The Fields sells ranunculus bulbs. The website states that a package of bulbs may last up to two years if stored in a cool, dry place between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Experts advise planting the bulbs in early spring. The flowers will bloom between March and May.
