Where to Find the Best Fields of Wildflowers in Texas

Looking for wildflowers to take photos in this year? Check out these Texas hotspots for the best fields to visit.

Story and photos by Gerald McLeod, retired TCDRS Communications Manager

It’s difficult to predict where and when the best fields of wildflowers will be from year to year, but generally speaking, the wildflowers begin blooming in March in the southwest part of the state and move toward the northeast corner through April.

With more than 5,000 species of wildflowers in Texas, you can pretty much count on seeing the highways decorated with splashes of color into the fall. The Texas Department of Transportation sows around 30,000 pounds of wildflower seeds every year.

The Texas Legislature designated the bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) as the state wildflower in 1901. Bluebonnets come in a variety of colors from white to pink, and Texas A&M University created a maroon version. Here’s where to find them:

• The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin is the perfect starting point for your wildflower adventure, whether you visit their gardens or their website.

• South of Dallas, the Ennis Bluebonnet Trail is the oldest annual bluebonnet trail in Texas. The guided and self-guided tours cover more than 40 miles of roads. Download a map and get updates at BluebonnetTrail.org.
  
  

Left: In bumper years, the famous “Bluebonnet House” floats on a sea of bluebonnets outside of Marble Falls. Right: Halfway between Houston and Austin on US290, Brenham and Washington County consistently sparkle with wildflowers.

• The roads around the Highland Lakes in the Texas Hill Country are lined with displays of natural color. Burnet, the “Bluebonnet Capital of Texas,” offers updates and recommendations on the best places to see the flowers.

• About halfway between Austin and Houston, the country roads around Brenham reliably host wonderful displays of wildflowers. For a wildflower driving tour map, click here.

• In all directions from Fredericksburg, the roads are consistently lined with colorful displays. To find wildflower updates, click here. If you’re in the area, Wildseed Farms’ half-mile walking trail through its wildflower farm is worth a stop, too.

Texas