The flowers in the guide are grouped by color to make identification as easy as possible, and the accompanying text indicates size, bloom period, and other characteristics of each plant. The guide’s six double-sided panels fold up into a packet narrow enough to fit in a back pocket yet sturdy enough to stand up under repeated use. Lamination has also made the guide waterproof.

The plants identified in Southern California Wildflowers grow in a large area that includes the valleys, coastal mountains, and coastal plains of Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Orange and Ventura Counties and many other nearby places.