iPhone App

SMM WildFlowers
iPod Picture





This iPhone/iPod app is an off-line version of the
award-winning web site

Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area.


Current version 1.3.0
Released April 5th 2012

New in v1.3.0
  • Updated the flower database. This includes the addition of about 50 new species and several hundred new photos. This new content will increase the size of the app from about 500MB to about 550MB.
  • Added a simple notepad-like log for recording notes in the field.


Note: the large size of the app can result in very long downloads even over a fast internet connection (it takes about a half hour over my T1 line using my computer, even longer using the WiFi on my device.)

The app provides access to the entire content of the Wildflower web site, including its searchable database, even when your device has no access the internet. It is perfect for exploring those flower-filled remote areas of the Santa Monica Mountains NRA. If your device has access to the Internet the on-line version will generally provide the most up to date source of this content.

A secondary advantage of the app is that all of the content resides on you device so the web pages generally load much quicker than even the highest speed connection will allow. Further, the toolbar at the bottom of the screen provides immediate access to several of the site’s key functions.

The size of the app is its principal disadvantage. The app's content is significant as it includes over 950 plants showcased by over 6000 photos. After you add the searchable database the storage burden on your device's internal memory is about 550MB. This large size also means it can take quite a while to download or update (over 20 minutes on my commercial T1 connection.) In fact, it is too large to use a cell phone connection, you will have to use WiFi or do the install from your computer using iTunes.

The parent Wildflower web site is still under active development so it is likely that regular updates will be available as new flowers are added to the database.

An easy way to experience the content of this app before deciding to downloading it would be to visit the on-line version at the Park’s web site at www.nps.gov/samo Follow the "Wildflowers & What's Blooming" link and then click "Wildflower Photo Gallery." Also, be sure to click the link to the Mobile version of the site as that is the version that most resembles this app.

Here is a direct link to the mobile online version.

There are a few subtle differences between the content of the on-line version and the app. The principal one is that the on-line version is generally the most up to date both in terms of content and features. Second, the app has a toolbar at the bottom of the screen providing instant access to a few of the site's most important navigation pages. Because of this we have removed some of the unnecessary intra-site links from the app. For example, there is no need for a "Finder" link on any of the pages since the Finder is always available as a button on the toolbar.



SMM WildFlowers on iTunes Preview
(For users without iTunes)


App Support Site




If you have comments or questions:

SAMO_FlowerApp@NPS.gov




Mobile online version.


NPS Home


Santa Monica Mountains NRA Home


What's Blooming