Texas Wildflowers And Where To Find Them

Can you identify all Texas wildflowers and where to find them?

There is something about driving along Texas highways and catching a glimpse of beautiful wildflowers on the side of the road. If you’re lucky, the types of wildflowers in Texas you want to see will be everywhere, making your scenic drive worth it. Let’s delve into Texas wildflowers and where to find them.

In early spring, Texas wildflowers start sprouting their colors all over the Lone Star State – in more areas than some. There are over 5,000 species of wildflowers, but the most common ones are bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, pink evening primrose, Indian blankets, brown-eyed Susan, and a few more.

When it’s wildflower season, everyone wants to know one thing.

Where are all the Texas wildflowers?

Everywhere! East Texas, Texas Hill Country, Central Texas …and all up and down the highways.

Texas Wildflowers And Where To Find Them

Be in the know …

The Texas Legislature designated the Texas Bluebonnet (all varieties) as the Official State Flower of Texas years ago and declared Ennis, Texas, the Official Bluebonnet City of Texas.

Types of Wildflowers In Texas

Let me help you find the wildflowers that grow in Texas. As you plan your wildflower drive, look out for these Texas wildflowers. Many of them are in our state parks and small towns.

You may also want to look for Texas festivals and events, or the Texas Bluebonnet Festivals, as you plan your trip.

• Indian Blanket – the blanket flower
• Texas Bluebonnets (a prominent Texas Hill Country wildflower)
• Pink Evening Primroses are tiny pink flowers or, as I call them, buttercups.
• Purple Coneflower
• Indian Paintbrushes
• Black-eyed Susans
• Mexican Hat
• Species of milkweed
• Blue-eyed grass
• Prairie Verbena
• Pink Ladies
• Butterfly Weed
• Goldeneye Phlox
• Purple Poppy Mallow

Central Texas

Georgetown (north of Austin)

If you love the color red, you’ll love visiting Georgetown, Texas, in April. That’s when little red poppies spring up all over town, showing off their vibrant red color. It’s also when the town’s Red Poppy Festival starts. Mark your calendar for this wildflower trail and the annual festival in April.

 

Texas Hill Country Wildflowers

Fredericksburg

Known for mild weather, scenic drives, windy roads, wine, and wildflowers, the Texas Hill Country is a choice place many visit for all this and more. The Willow City Loop in Fredericksburg is the perfect drive to see the wildflowers.

Wildflowers are everywhere in the Hill Country. If you take a road trip there, it’s your lucky day.

While in the area, visit Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin and Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg to learn more about Texas wildflowers and to pick up Texas gifts.

Be sure to drive to Inks Lake State Park, where you’ll find many Texas bluebonnets and other wildflowers.

There are so many places in the area to visit while you’re looking for fields of wildflowers. It’s my favorite place to be! You may also want to visit Lyndon B. Johnson State Park in Stonewall, TX. Lots of Indian blankets there.

Marble Falls Wildflowers

If going to the Hill Country through Marble Falls, on Hwy 281, catch the wildflower scene on FM 1431 east toward Balcones Canyonlands, FM 2342, and Park Road 4. Then, while you’re there, stop at the popular Blue Bonnet Cafe for a great breakfast and all sorts of homemade pies. Their breakfasts are huge and at a great price, and the pies, well, you’ll have to see for yourself!

Llano Wildflowers

Just outside Llano on Hwy 16 (in April), look for a field of white prickly poppies. A photographer who has photographed the area calls it “Country Gold” because it has a pretty gold hue when the sun is just over the horizon and shines through the trees and onto the flowers.

 

West Texas

Big Bend Country

Big Bend is where you can enjoy nature all day long, and when the wildflowers or desert blooms, as some call them, come out to play, it’s all the better. Drives through Alpine, Terlingua, Presidio, and Marfa all provide scenic views, and hiking at Big Bend National Park is almost a must-do in the area.

No matter where you start, watch for blind cactus, rainbow cactus, strawberry pitaya, ocotillo, yucca, and desert marigold.

South Texas

San Antonio

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is an excellent source for seeing and learning about our native flowers. Along the way, look for bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, pink evening primroses, and winecups.

These four wildflowers are the most popular and easiest to find on our Texas Highways.

Gulf Coast

Brazoria County

Wildflowers In East Texas

Washington County

The 80-mile round-trip circuit through Washington County (Brenham, Burton, Independence, Washington, Chappell Hill) features blankets of bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, thistles, purple coneflowers, verbena, and many other beautiful wildflowers. If you time your trip perfectly, you can catch the Bluebonnet Festival in Chappell Hill.

Davy Crockett National Forest

If you start your journey in Nacogdoches, you’ll drive through the Davy Crockett National Forest, where you could spend most of the day just wandering around the forest. But get back in your car to see more wildflowers in Crockett and Palestine. Look for beautiful dogwood trees, redbud trees, winecups, and bluebonnets.

But before leaving Palestine, may I suggest going to Davey Dogwood Park to see the fairy gardens? Locals make these little fairy houses and can only use (or are supposed to) things they find in nature. I saw it last year, and it was all so darling. If you stick around, you can enjoy all the festivities during the Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration.

 

Ennis

Ennis, TX, is approximately 1.5 hours east of Dallas. And the drive there is impeccable in the spring. When you arrive in Ennis, go by the visitor center and pick up a bluebonnet trails guide – it will show you the way to the beautiful fields of bluebonnets and other wildflowers. I made this trail last year and was so impressed with the bluebonnets I saw, I’ll probably go back this year.

Tri-Cities