Big Red Sage (Salvia pentstemonoides) is one of Texas’ rarest native plants. Found only in seven known wild populations across the western Edwards Plateau, this federally endangered species faces unique challenges to its survival.

At the Wildflower Center, Seed Bank Technician Clara is studying how Big Red Sage reproduces by comparing different pollination treatments. Her research will help answer important questions: Can the plant self-pollinate? Are hummingbirds providing enough pollen for healthy seed production? And are the plants producing viable seeds?

After flowering, each seed from the study will be collected and examined to see whether it developed successfully. Those results will help researchers better understand the reproductive biology of this Texas native and inform future conservation efforts.

One fact that surprises many visitors: the Wildflower Center has more Big Red Sage plants than are currently known in the wild!

If you notice small mesh bags covering some of the flowers during your next visit, now you’ll know; they’re an important part of this research.

Some of the most fascinating wildlife moments happen so quickly they’re easy to miss.

This dragonfly appears to be laying eggs in one of our ponds. Many dragonfly species deposit their eggs directly in the water, where they’ll hatch into aquatic nymphs and spend months (or even years) before emerging as the fast-flying adults we see darting over ponds and streams.

Wildlife moments like this are happening every day at the Wildflower Center. Since 2010, volunteers with our Fauna Project have documented thousands of species living among our native plants, helping reveal the remarkable biodiversity that makes these gardens so much more than a collection of plants.

This month, a selection of their photographs is on display at the @laketravislibrary. Join us for the exhibit reception this Saturday, July 18, from 2–3 p.m., where you’ll have the chance to meet some of the volunteer photographers behind the exhibit.

📍 Lake Travis Community Library
1938 Lohmans Crossing Road
Lakeway, TX 78734

We recently shared sensitive briar, whose leaves fold when touched. Here’s another native wildflower with a surprising characteristic.
 
The individual flowers of obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) can be gently rotated along the stem, where they’ll temporarily remain in their new position. This unusual trait is what gave the plant its memorable common name.
 
Beyond this botanical curiosity, obedient plant is also an excellent nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators.
 
Come by and check it out!

#NativePlants #AustinTX

Our buffalograss is looking a little different these days, and that’s exactly the point. 🌾

Earlier this season, we shared how well our buffalograss lawn was establishing. Now that Central Texas has shifted into the heat of summer, we’re dialing back irrigation to better mimic natural conditions.

As the lawn enters its summer dormancy, you’ll notice some of that bright green color fade. That’s normal. In fact, watering too much during this time can do more harm than good.

In this update, Kyle shares:
🌿 Why buffalograss naturally browns a bit in summer
💧 How we’re adjusting our watering schedule
✂️ Mowing options for a more formal look (or why we let ours grow!)
🦗 A few thoughts on chiggers and other wildlife that are part of a healthy ecosystem

If you’re growing buffalograss at home, we’d love to hear how it’s doing. Drop your questions in the comments or share a photo, we’re happy to help however we can.

#NativePlants #Buffalograss #TexasGardening #NativeLawn #WildflowerCenter

🦣 The Ice Age wasn’t just about mammoths…

This week’s Ice Age quest invites you to look beyond the giant creatures and discover some of the oldest plant lineages still growing today. As you explore the gardens, see if you can spot the prehistoric plants featured in this Reel.

Find this week’s Ice Age quest at the Entrance Pond, then explore the gardens to see how many prehistoric plants you can spot. Learn more at wildflower.org/iceage.

Did you spot them? 👀

🌲 Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is one of the oldest known wetland tree species on Earth and can live for more than 3,000 years.

🐴 Horsetails (Equisetum spp.) are among the oldest surviving plant lineages. Their ancient relatives grew as tall as trees more than 350 million years ago.

🌿 Dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) is a hardy native palm that belongs to an ancient lineage of flowering plants.

🌿 Ferns first appeared about 360 million years ago. While today’s ferns are not the same species that grew in prehistoric forests, they are descendants of an ancient lineage that predates the dinosaurs.

#IceAgeInTheWild #WildflowerCenter

Happy Fourth of July! 🎆

The fluffy pink blooms of Mimosa roemeriana (Sensitive briar) always remind us of tiny botanical fireworks.

In this week’s trail stop, Kyle introduces this fascinating Texas native growing along our research trails and explains why its leaves fold when touched — a remarkable adaptation that’s just as fun to observe as it is to learn about.

Have you ever come across sensitive briar in the wild?

Many native plants really come into their own in the summer.

This week, Sophie is highlighting three of her summer rockstars: Eysenhardtia texana (Texas kidneywood), Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida (zexmenia) and Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana). These Texas natives continue to thrive even through the hottest days of the season.

She also shares an important tip about choosing native Texas lantana and what to know about some of the colorful varieties commonly sold in nurseries.

Which native plant is a summer rockstar in your garden?

Plan your visit: wildflower.org/visit

#NativePlants #AustinTX