The Wildflower Center will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 21, due to inclement weather.
BECOME A MEMBER
Membership is a cost-effective way to visit often and support our important work. Please join our efforts to connect people to the natural world and create a more sustainable future.
EVENTS & CLASSES
Join us for one of our exciting classes, programs or events
Fortlandia
Daily, Oct. 4, 2024 – Feb. 2, 2025
MEMBERS ONLY: Winter Woody Plant Sale
Saturday, January 25
Fortlandia Designer Info Session
Wednesdays, Jan. 15 & 29
Community Brainstorming Session
Tuesday, January 28
GARDEN VIEWS
An inside glimpse of the gardens from our Instagram feed
UPDATE: The Center will be closing at 4 p.m. today, Monday, Jan. 20, to allow staff and visitors to get home before the precipitation.
VISITOR ALERT: Due to inclement weather and the threat of icy road conditions, the Wildflower Center will be closed on Tuesday, January 21, following The University of Texas guidelines. Please take care, stay warm, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!
#WildflowerCenter
Jan 20
Havard agave (Agave havardiana) is a hardy, drought-tolerant perennial native to West Texas and northern Mexico. Its large, rosette-shaped leaves have sharp teeth along the edges and end in a dramatic spine, a signature feature of the agave family. Mature plants can grow up to 3 feet tall and wide, making them a striking focal point in any garden.
🌞 Best planted in full sun and well-drained soil, havard agave thrives with minimal water, making it a smart, sustainable choice for drier landscapes. These plants are built to last, with a lifespan of 20 to 40 years—and they’re famously tough to remove once established, so be sure you’ve picked the perfect spot before planting!
✨ We’re open regular hours this holiday weekend, so come stroll through the gardens and get inspired by the resilience and beauty of native plants: wildflower.org/visit
📸 Wildflower Center
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #CenturyPlant #HavardAgave #NativePlants
Jan 18
Featured Fort: Mimic 👾
What secrets lie within this giant treasure chest? Only the boldest adventurers will find out! Designed by Victoria Marquez @tori.majesta and Cody Thompson @codyleight, Mimic is a whimsical structure blending fantasy with nature.
Adorned with hand-painted swirling designs and wildflowers, Mimic evokes an abandoned building overtaken by nature’s beauty. Step inside to discover the world from a new perspective, or climb atop the chest to feel like you’ve conquered a magical realm. Don’t forget to snap a photo peeking through its “teeth”!
Inspired by the lore of Mimics from video games and the idea of nature reclaiming what’s been taken, this fort is as meaningful as it is beautiful.
🌟 Fortlandia is open through February 2. Stop by and explore ahead of the cold weather on the horizon: wildflower.org/fortlandia. And don’t forget to cast your vote for your favorite fort using the QR codes throughout the exhibit!
#Mimic #Fortlandia #WildflowerCenter #AustinTX #StayWild #AustinCreative #AustinDesign
Jan 17
Oh, Mocha Mousse is trending? Native plants have had that look down all winter (and, in many cases, year-round). The 2025 PANTONE color is everywhere in nature—bark, seed pods, dried grasses—subtle, cozy, and effortlessly beautiful.
Curious about adding these natural hues or other favorites to your garden? Explore our Native Plants of North America database online at the link in our bio.
🦎 Texas spiny lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus), by Bill J. Boyd
🍂 Lindheimer’s senna (Senna lindheimeriana) seed pod
🌼 Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella) seed head
🌾 Big muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri)
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #MochaMousse #Pantone2025 #NativePlants
Jan 16
Texas is home to 12 Level III ecoregions, each with its own climate, soil, and plant life. Unlike Plant Hardiness Zones, which are based on average winter low temperatures, ecoregions dive deeper, highlighting the unique natural diversity that shapes what grows best. Ecoregions express the particularities of nature in any area, the distinct “language” of place, as Lady Bird Johnson put it.
Whether you’re a gardener or naturalist, understanding your ecoregion can help you make informed choices in planting, conservation, and exploring the natural world.
What ecoregion do you live in? Do you have favorites in other parts of the country? Find out more at the link in our bio.
📷 American basket-flower (Centaurea americana) blankets a field near Lubbock in the High Plains ecoregion, by Esther Irish
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #Ecoregions #Texas
Jan 15
Featured Fort: Ant Farm 🐜
Ants might be tiny, but they play a huge role in keeping ecosystems healthy. On top of being a snack for bigger critters like horned toads and armadillos, these insects help keep things clean by eating all kinds of organic waste.
As kids, many of us were fascinated by ant farms—watching their tiny tunnels and teamwork unfold. Designer Chris Honea @honea.ponea took that curiosity a step further, drawing inspiration from the movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" to create a life-sized ant farm you can step into! Crawl through tunnels, peek through colorful windows that bring the underground above ground, and experience the world from an ant’s perspective.
🌟 While you`re exploring Fortlandia, don’t forget to cast your vote for your favorite fort using the QR codes throughout the exhibit.
Fortlandia is open through February 2! Interested in becoming a designer? We`ve got free info sessions tomorrow, Jan. 15, and Jan. 29 (link in our bio!).
📷 @wildrosephotostudio
#AntFarm #Fortlandia #WildflowerCenter #AustinTX #StayWild #NaturePlay
Jan 14
Every native plant blooming in our gardens, every child discovering a lifelong love for nature, every bee buzzing around its favorite flower - your support helps make it all possible. Thanks to your generosity, we not only met our end-of-year fundraising goal - we more than doubled it! Twice the impact for our native plant conservation, educational programs, and the beauty we all cherish.
Curious about what else you helped us accomplish? Check out our Impact Report for the full story: wildflower.org/impact. Let’s keep the momentum going together in 2025!
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #NativePlants #PublicGardens
Jan 13
With sweetly scented yellow puffball flowers and delicate foliage, goldenball leadtree (Leucaena retusa) creates an airy canopy—perfect for sun-loving plants to thrive beneath. Winter is the ideal time to plant woody species like this, giving their roots a head start before summer’s heat.
Shop our Members-Only Winter Woody Plant Sale on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Not a member? Join today to enjoy perks like exclusive sales, free admission, and more - plus, members save 10% at the sale!
Details and plant list (coming soon!) at the link in our bio.
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #NativePlants #WoodyPlant
Jan 11
We’re excited to share the opening reception of "Wildlife Amidst the Wildflowers" on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Old Bakery & Artisan Emporium. 🌿 This exhibition features breathtaking photography by volunteers from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Fauna Project, led by Valerie Bugh.
Curated by @davidjcook10, the exhibit will showcase works by @naturewalker1, @lindakcrabtree, @tex_anne, @mika.geiger and more. These images reveal the hidden world of pollinators, birds, and other creatures that thrive alongside our wildflowers.
Our gardens are more than collections of plants - they’re living ecosystems. This exhibit highlights the work the Fauna Project photographers have been doing since 2010 to document the fauna that make these habitats complete.
🎟️ RSVP for FREE via the link in our bio! The exhibit will remain on display through mid-March, but the reception is a celebration you won’t want to miss.
📷 Sweat bee (Agapostemon sp.) by @naturewalker1
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #FaunaSurvey #AustinArtist #NaturePhotography
Jan 10
Ice ribbons aren’t just a frostweed (Verbesina virginica) phenomenon! Lead Horticulturist Amy Medley spotted these delicate, icy shapes on a pyramid bush (Melochia tomentosa) near the Savanna Meadow.
When temps drop below freezing — as they did this week in Austin — moisture escapes from plant stems and freezes in the cold air, forming stunning, ribbon-like ice formations. Known by many names, including frost flowers, ice leaves, or crystallofolia, they’re one of winter’s most fleeting wonders.
More on nature’s frosty art at the link in our bio.
📸 Pyramid bush with ice crystals by Amy Medley
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #IceRibbons #PyramidBush
Jan 9
UPDATE: The Center will be closing at 4 p.m. today, Monday, Jan. 20, to allow staff and visitors to get home before the precipitation.
VISITOR ALERT: Due to inclement weather and the threat of icy road conditions, the Wildflower Center will be closed on Tuesday, January 21, following The University of Texas guidelines. Please take care, stay warm, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!
#WildflowerCenter
Jan 20
Havard agave (Agave havardiana) is a hardy, drought-tolerant perennial native to West Texas and northern Mexico. Its large, rosette-shaped leaves have sharp teeth along the edges and end in a dramatic spine, a signature feature of the agave family. Mature plants can grow up to 3 feet tall and wide, making them a striking focal point in any garden.
🌞 Best planted in full sun and well-drained soil, havard agave thrives with minimal water, making it a smart, sustainable choice for drier landscapes. These plants are built to last, with a lifespan of 20 to 40 years—and they’re famously tough to remove once established, so be sure you’ve picked the perfect spot before planting!
✨ We’re open regular hours this holiday weekend, so come stroll through the gardens and get inspired by the resilience and beauty of native plants: wildflower.org/visit
📸 Wildflower Center
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #CenturyPlant #HavardAgave #NativePlants
Jan 18
Featured Fort: Mimic 👾
What secrets lie within this giant treasure chest? Only the boldest adventurers will find out! Designed by Victoria Marquez @tori.majesta and Cody Thompson @codyleight, Mimic is a whimsical structure blending fantasy with nature.
Adorned with hand-painted swirling designs and wildflowers, Mimic evokes an abandoned building overtaken by nature’s beauty. Step inside to discover the world from a new perspective, or climb atop the chest to feel like you’ve conquered a magical realm. Don’t forget to snap a photo peeking through its “teeth”!
Inspired by the lore of Mimics from video games and the idea of nature reclaiming what’s been taken, this fort is as meaningful as it is beautiful.
🌟 Fortlandia is open through February 2. Stop by and explore ahead of the cold weather on the horizon: wildflower.org/fortlandia. And don’t forget to cast your vote for your favorite fort using the QR codes throughout the exhibit!
#Mimic #Fortlandia #WildflowerCenter #AustinTX #StayWild #AustinCreative #AustinDesign
Jan 17
Oh, Mocha Mousse is trending? Native plants have had that look down all winter (and, in many cases, year-round). The 2025 PANTONE color is everywhere in nature—bark, seed pods, dried grasses—subtle, cozy, and effortlessly beautiful.
Curious about adding these natural hues or other favorites to your garden? Explore our Native Plants of North America database online at the link in our bio.
🦎 Texas spiny lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus), by Bill J. Boyd
🍂 Lindheimer’s senna (Senna lindheimeriana) seed pod
🌼 Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella) seed head
🌾 Big muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri)
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #MochaMousse #Pantone2025 #NativePlants
Jan 16
Texas is home to 12 Level III ecoregions, each with its own climate, soil, and plant life. Unlike Plant Hardiness Zones, which are based on average winter low temperatures, ecoregions dive deeper, highlighting the unique natural diversity that shapes what grows best. Ecoregions express the particularities of nature in any area, the distinct “language” of place, as Lady Bird Johnson put it.
Whether you’re a gardener or naturalist, understanding your ecoregion can help you make informed choices in planting, conservation, and exploring the natural world.
What ecoregion do you live in? Do you have favorites in other parts of the country? Find out more at the link in our bio.
📷 American basket-flower (Centaurea americana) blankets a field near Lubbock in the High Plains ecoregion, by Esther Irish
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #Ecoregions #Texas
Jan 15
Featured Fort: Ant Farm 🐜
Ants might be tiny, but they play a huge role in keeping ecosystems healthy. On top of being a snack for bigger critters like horned toads and armadillos, these insects help keep things clean by eating all kinds of organic waste.
As kids, many of us were fascinated by ant farms—watching their tiny tunnels and teamwork unfold. Designer Chris Honea @honea.ponea took that curiosity a step further, drawing inspiration from the movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" to create a life-sized ant farm you can step into! Crawl through tunnels, peek through colorful windows that bring the underground above ground, and experience the world from an ant’s perspective.
🌟 While you`re exploring Fortlandia, don’t forget to cast your vote for your favorite fort using the QR codes throughout the exhibit.
Fortlandia is open through February 2! Interested in becoming a designer? We`ve got free info sessions tomorrow, Jan. 15, and Jan. 29 (link in our bio!).
📷 @wildrosephotostudio
#AntFarm #Fortlandia #WildflowerCenter #AustinTX #StayWild #NaturePlay
Jan 14
Every native plant blooming in our gardens, every child discovering a lifelong love for nature, every bee buzzing around its favorite flower - your support helps make it all possible. Thanks to your generosity, we not only met our end-of-year fundraising goal - we more than doubled it! Twice the impact for our native plant conservation, educational programs, and the beauty we all cherish.
Curious about what else you helped us accomplish? Check out our Impact Report for the full story: wildflower.org/impact. Let’s keep the momentum going together in 2025!
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #NativePlants #PublicGardens
Jan 13
With sweetly scented yellow puffball flowers and delicate foliage, goldenball leadtree (Leucaena retusa) creates an airy canopy—perfect for sun-loving plants to thrive beneath. Winter is the ideal time to plant woody species like this, giving their roots a head start before summer’s heat.
Shop our Members-Only Winter Woody Plant Sale on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Not a member? Join today to enjoy perks like exclusive sales, free admission, and more - plus, members save 10% at the sale!
Details and plant list (coming soon!) at the link in our bio.
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #NativePlants #WoodyPlant
Jan 11
We’re excited to share the opening reception of "Wildlife Amidst the Wildflowers" on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Old Bakery & Artisan Emporium. 🌿 This exhibition features breathtaking photography by volunteers from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Fauna Project, led by Valerie Bugh.
Curated by @davidjcook10, the exhibit will showcase works by @naturewalker1, @lindakcrabtree, @tex_anne, @mika.geiger and more. These images reveal the hidden world of pollinators, birds, and other creatures that thrive alongside our wildflowers.
Our gardens are more than collections of plants - they’re living ecosystems. This exhibit highlights the work the Fauna Project photographers have been doing since 2010 to document the fauna that make these habitats complete.
🎟️ RSVP for FREE via the link in our bio! The exhibit will remain on display through mid-March, but the reception is a celebration you won’t want to miss.
📷 Sweat bee (Agapostemon sp.) by @naturewalker1
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #FaunaSurvey #AustinArtist #NaturePhotography
Jan 10
Ice ribbons aren’t just a frostweed (Verbesina virginica) phenomenon! Lead Horticulturist Amy Medley spotted these delicate, icy shapes on a pyramid bush (Melochia tomentosa) near the Savanna Meadow.
When temps drop below freezing — as they did this week in Austin — moisture escapes from plant stems and freezes in the cold air, forming stunning, ribbon-like ice formations. Known by many names, including frost flowers, ice leaves, or crystallofolia, they’re one of winter’s most fleeting wonders.
More on nature’s frosty art at the link in our bio.
📸 Pyramid bush with ice crystals by Amy Medley
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #IceRibbons #PyramidBush
Jan 9
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