By Jacqueline Thompson
The Corona del Mar Flower Streets are one of the most recognizable pockets of the Orange County coast, a grid of flower-named streets set just above the ocean. I love showing buyers this part of the village, because the character here is hard to find anywhere else. In this guide I want to explain what it is like to buy a home in the Corona del Mar Flower Streets, from the history in the street signs to the lifestyle at the water. Here is what you should know.
Key Takeaways
- The Flower Streets are a grid of flower-named streets in the Corona del Mar Village near the ocean.
- The names date to a 1922 subdivision map and follow a loose alphabetical, botanical theme.
- Homes here sit on compact village lots close to the beach and the shops along Coast Highway.
- Buying here is about location and character as much as square footage.
The History Behind the Flower Streets
The story of the Corona del Mar Flower Streets starts in the early 1900s. George Hart laid out the original tract around 1904 with numbered streets, then abandoned the project, and the F. D. Cornell Company took over the land around 1915. The flower names first appeared on a 1922 re-subdivision map, drawn up as the state announced that Coast Highway would run through Corona del Mar.
The alphabetical theme is not perfect, which is part of its charm. A few letters repeat, with Acacia and Avocado both starting the run, and Marguerite and Marigold sitting together in the middle. One street tells its own story too. Pansy Street was renamed Poinsettia in 1940, and that change stuck.
The alphabetical theme is not perfect, which is part of its charm. A few letters repeat, with Acacia and Avocado both starting the run, and Marguerite and Marigold sitting together in the middle. One street tells its own story too. Pansy Street was renamed Poinsettia in 1940, and that change stuck.
Streets That Carry the Theme
- Acacia and Avocado near the front of the alphabet
- Dahlia, Fernleaf, and Hazel through the middle
- Marguerite and Marigold, sitting side by side
- Poppy and Poinsettia, the latter renamed from Pansy in 1940
What the Homes Are Like
Homes in the Corona del Mar Flower Streets sit on the compact lots that shaped the original village, which makes land one of the biggest drivers of value here. You will see everything from early beach cottages to fully rebuilt custom homes on the same footprint.
Because the lots are small and the location is strong, many owners build up rather than out. Rooftop decks are common, and the best of them catch ocean or harbor views.
Because the lots are small and the location is strong, many owners build up rather than out. Rooftop decks are common, and the best of them catch ocean or harbor views.
Home Styles You Will Find
- Original beach cottages from the early village
- Rebuilt custom homes on the same compact lots
- Duplexes and income properties common across the village
- Modern coastal designs with rooftop decks for views
Location and Lifestyle
Part of the appeal of the Flower Streets is where they sit. Coast Highway runs through the middle of the grid, and the streets slope down toward the ocean, so the beach, the bluffs, and the village shops are all close at hand. This is the heart of the Corona del Mar Village.
Daily life here leans on the coast. Corona del Mar State Beach, the Ocean Boulevard bluffs, and the restaurants along Coast Highway are all part of the routine for people who live in the Flower Streets. Lookout Point gives one of the best views over the harbor entrance, and the sand at Big Corona sits just below the bluffs.
The village setting is a large reason buyers choose the Flower Streets over the newer, larger homes farther inland. You trade square footage for a location at the center of Corona del Mar, close to the water and the shops.
Daily life here leans on the coast. Corona del Mar State Beach, the Ocean Boulevard bluffs, and the restaurants along Coast Highway are all part of the routine for people who live in the Flower Streets. Lookout Point gives one of the best views over the harbor entrance, and the sand at Big Corona sits just below the bluffs.
The village setting is a large reason buyers choose the Flower Streets over the newer, larger homes farther inland. You trade square footage for a location at the center of Corona del Mar, close to the water and the shops.
What Is Close By
- Corona del Mar State Beach, known locally as Big Corona
- The Ocean Boulevard bluffs and Lookout Point
- The shops and restaurants along Coast Highway
- The Newport Harbor entrance, with the Balboa Peninsula across the water
Buying in the Corona del Mar Flower Streets
The Flower Streets draw steady demand, and homes here can move quickly when they are priced right. Because so much of the value is in the land and location, I help buyers look past the current home to the lot and the block it sits on.
Two homes on paper can live very differently depending on their street, so local knowledge matters as much as the listing details.
Two homes on paper can live very differently depending on their street, so local knowledge matters as much as the listing details.
Things to Weigh Before You Buy
- The specific street and block, which affect light and views
- The lot size and whether the home is original or rebuilt
- Whether the property is a single home or a duplex
- Parking, since the village lots are compact
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are they called the Flower Streets?
The streets carry flower names that first appeared on a 1922 subdivision map of Corona del Mar. The theme runs loosely through the alphabet, and one street, Pansy, was renamed Poinsettia in 1940.
Are Corona del Mar Flower Streets homes close to the beach?
Yes. The Flower Streets sit in the Corona del Mar Village just above the ocean, a short distance from Corona del Mar State Beach and the Ocean Boulevard bluffs. That location is a big part of why homes here hold their value.
What kind of homes are in the Flower Streets?
You will find everything from original beach cottages to rebuilt custom homes and duplexes, most on the compact lots that define the village. Many newer builds add rooftop decks to capture ocean or harbor views.
Reach Out to Jacqueline Thompson Today
If the Corona del Mar Flower Streets are where you picture yourself, I would love to help you find the right home on the right block. I know this village well and can help you read the differences between one street and the next so your search stays focused.
When you are ready, reach out to me, Jacqueline Thompson, and let me put my knowledge of Corona del Mar to work for you.
When you are ready, reach out to me, Jacqueline Thompson, and let me put my knowledge of Corona del Mar to work for you.
