Superbloom in Death Valley National Park, Feb. 6, 2016.

Every spring, enthusiasts cross their fingers hoping for a wildflower “superbloom,” bringing colorful hillsides across California’s landscape. This year, it’s true — sort of.

Wildflowers are having an excellent year in Death Valley National Park and other state and national parks across California, and the term “superbloom” is getting tossed around liberally. But according to experts interviewed by SFGATE, there’s no concrete way to define the phenomenon. And even if there were, some find the term problematic altogether.

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The Mojave Desert Land Trust said “a superbloom is loosely defined as a rare occurrence in which an abundance of desert wildflowers blossom at the same time.” But then again, that depends on what you’d call an abundance. 

“Whether it rises to the status of a superbloom is in the eye of the beholder,” Naomi Fraga, a botanist and the director of conservation programs at the California Botanic Garden and an associate professor of botany at Claremont Graduate University, told SFGATE in an email. 

Although the driest and hottest place in North America might seem like an unlikely place for a large display of wildflowers, the right conditions tend to come around once a decade, according to the National Park Service. An above-average year must have perfectly timed rain in the fall, followed by “an El Niño weather pattern that brings above average rainfall to the Desert Southwest,” the Park Service’s website says. 

Superbloom in Death Valley National Park, Feb. 6, 2016.

Earning superbloom status also depends on location. Although several media outlets have been quick to describe the return of wildflowers to Death Valley National Park as a “superbloom,” and park officials acknowledge it’s having the best bloom year since 2016, they have yet to categorize the season as a superbloom.

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Don't let Google decide who you trust.

“I personally wouldn’t classify it as a true super bloom only because it seems to be a bit localized and is not as widespread as I have seen in previous years,” Fraga said. “... The Superbloom term seems to convey a kind of hype, that I think people expect something that is of an otherworldly quality.”

Park officials also can be hesitant to promote a superbloom for more practical reasons. Beth Huning, a naturalist in Death Valley, told SFGATE that the “very arbitrary” term often draws an influx of visitors who don’t respect the ecosystem. 

“As a naturalist, I am really hesitant to use the term ‘superbloom,’” she said. “It brings out the crowds, often people who don’t care about their impact and trample the flowers.” 

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In March 2016, the park announced its “superbloom” (and even then, it recognized the term was not official). More than 209,000 people visited Death Valley National Park that month — almost double the number of visitors during the same month in 2015. Such an influx of visitors can lead to traffic jams and damage the ecosystem. When visitors pick and trample flowers, for example, they can hinder the area’s ability to produce flowers in the future.

Superbloom in Death Valley National Park, Jan. 30, 2016.

California State Parks is warning visitors not to “Doom the Bloom.” Visitors should refrain from picking the flowers, park only in designated parking spots, avoid trampling the flowers and stay on designated trails. 

In light of the concerns and the importance of preserving the ecosystem, Utah-based tour company Southwest Adventure Tours is taking steps to promote responsible visits to Death Valley. The company is advertising on its website that guests are likely to spot wildflowers during its upcoming tours.

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“All of our guides have been certified with [Leave No Trace] and will practice it during our tours into Death Valley for this event,” Jason Murray, the company president, told SFGATE in an email. 

In addition, Murray said his company will focus on small groups and that guides will minimize off-trail travel.

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