10 Beautiful Wildflowers You Will Find in Texas

There are over 5,000 species of beautiful wildflowers you will find in Texas. The wildflowers of Texas start blooming in February, and many continue to bloom until late fall. Wildflowers add color along the sides of the roads and highways. They also provide food for birds, butterflies, bees, and other creatures. They provide shelter from the heat, and many of the flowers have medicinal properties to alleviate pain and illness.

1. Bluebonnets

Gorgeous bluebonnets are wildflowers you will find in Texas blooming from January through April in all of the regions of the state. Everyone knows they are the state flower of Texas, but did you know there are six bluebonnet species? Two bluebonnet species, Lupinus Texensic and Lupinous Subcarnosis grow exclusively in Texas.

In Texas, these beautiful flowers are found along the sides of the road, on road dividers, and in private yards and pastures. The beautiful flowers are often used for photo-taking by brides, mothers, and visitors to the state. It is not illegal for you to pick bluebonnets, but ensure you have the property owner’s permission before you pick any of them.

Bees are attracted to the fragrant blossoms, and snakes, especially rattlesnakes, hide among the flowers. The snakes are in the flowers because small rodents are attracted to them. If you decide to take a picture in a patch of bluebonnets, watch where you step so you do not surprise a hidden snake.

2. Blue-Eyed Grass

Blue-eyed grass is a hardy Texas wildflower that blooms from late spring through early summer. This flower is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, making it suitable for the state. These flowers are native to North America and are not aggressive or invasive.

These flowering plants are not just pretty to look at. They have medicinal purposes. Native Americans made tea from the roots of these flowers to treat digestive issues and sore throats. These flowers grow in wooded areas and in open fields or meadows.

People like to plant blue-eyed grass in their flower beds. The small plants make interesting borders and additions to almost all flower beds. They require minimal care, and the yellow centers, in contrast with the spectacular blue petals, create an amazing visual display.

3. Red Lantana or Texas Lantana

The Red Lantana is called the Dallas Red Lantana and the Texas Lantana. The clusters of blooms range from a crisp yellow to a vibrant red. These flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other nectar-loving wildlife. They attract so many butterflies that some call them butterfly bushes.

These flowers grow best in the southern portion of the state. They like the warm temperatures and the sandy soil. Planting these wildflowers will add beauty to your garden, but be careful. The lantana shrubs are toxic to rabbits, dogs, and other wildlife species.

4. Texas Indian Blanket

The Indian blanket is a Texas wildflower that thrives in the harsher Texas climates. The plants can grow in any portion of the state, even near the coast, because they are salt-resistant. Rabbits and deer are not attracted to the flowers and tolerate most soil types.

When you see a field of these flowers growing, they look like a beautiful blanket. They are vividly colored and provide beauty in the harshest regions of the state. These flowers are called the fire wheel by some, and many people plant them in their flower beds to brighten their home gardens.

5. Indian Paintbrush

Indian Paintbrush is the most popular name for these wildflowers you will find in Texas. The plants are also called the Texas Paintbrush, Grandmothers-hair, and several other names. No matter what you call this amazing flower, you must agree that it is one of the prettiest things to see on the side of the highway or covering a field.

The Chippewa Indians used the Indian Paintbrush for medicinal reasons, including the pain and swelling associated with rheumatism. The flowers look very delicate, but do not let them fool you. They are hardy plants that are drought-resistant and heat-resistant.

6. Brown-Eyed Susan

The brown-eyed Susan is found in every portion of Texas. They are also called the black-eyed Susan. The plants can thrive in all types of soils and climates. After a fire, the brown-eyed Susan is one of the first plants to spring out of the parched soil. The bright yellow petals last about one week before wailing and falling away.

Children are attracted to these wildflowers and pick them as bouquets for their moms. The plants are very hardy and require little care, so they make good additions to flower beds around your home. The brown-eyed Susan has no pleasant floral scent, but nectar-loving creatures are happy to have them around.

7. Texas Fleabane

The myth is that dried fleabane flowers get fleas out of your home. While the flowers are not useful in deterring fleas, they are useful food sources for bees and butterflies. These flowers often grow in rocky areas where other flowering plants cannot survive.

You will find fleabane growing close to streams and creeks, in wooded areas, along the sides of the roads, and in open fields. They adapt well to different environments but stop blooming when the late spring and early summer temperatures reach 90 degrees.

8. Texas Thistle

The Texas thistle blooms flowers ranging from light pink to stunning purple. Butterflies are attracted to the blooms. Goldfinches also find the small, pom-pom-shaped blossoms irresistible.

The Texas thistle is not just another pretty face in the wildflowers you will find in Texas. The plant has medicinal uses that help relieve inflammation and swelling of the joints. You can eat the Texas thistle’s roots, stems, flowers, leaves, and seeds.

9. Texas Red Spider Lily

Spider lily flowers seem to emerge overnight. They are some of the first wildflowers you will find in Texas to bloom yearly. The red blooms are the most common, but white Spider Lily flowers are not unheard of. The wildflower is called a spider lily because the stamens of the petals resemble spider legs. The Texas residents who live closer to the coast refer to these flowers as hurricane lilies.

The beautiful red flowers provide nourishment to butterflies and bees. You will also see the occasional hummingbird feasting on the sweet nectar. They go away when the temperatures start to climb, but they come back, sprouting new plants from the existing root system.

10. Texas Prickly Pear Cactus

The prickly pear cactus is more than a beautiful wildflower you will find in Texas. They provide food and shelter for many species, and they provide edible fruit that humans enjoy. The plant provides aesthetic beauty when the cactus puts on its magnificent array of blooms in the spring. The yellow, orange, and red blossoms burst open, providing bees, wasps, and butterflies nectar.

When the flowers are gone, the cactus fruit is left to provide sustenance for birds and humans. The fruit has a taste similar to honeydew melon. After the fruit has been eaten, the cactus is still useful to birds, lizards, and small rodents as a shelter from the blaring Texas sun.

Thank you for reading this article. To find out more about wildflowers, visit A-Z Animals.

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