Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - February 27, 2013

From: Laceys Spring, AL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Wildflower Center, Wildflowers
Title: Wildflower blooming in Austin in mid-March from Laceys Spring AL
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Hi I will be at and around the center the weekend of March 9 & 10 to exhibit in the Art and Artisan's Festival and plan to stay a few extra days to "wildflower" either before or after. What is your recommendation in regard to the blooming going on now and expected pattern. Obviously would prefer to see most blooms possible.

ANSWER:

We are delighted you will be here for the Artists and Artisans Festival as well as doing some wildflower viewing. You will actually be here in a prime time for flower viewing. The ever-popular bluebonnet is reliably in full bloom from early March to mid-April. Here is a previous Mr. Smarty Plants question that has good information on where to tour in this area. This answer was for someone in Arkansas who wanted to know the same thing you do, so you can ignore the references to other parts of the state. From our Native Plant Database. we are going to give you a list of the wildflowers blooming from February through April in Central Texas. You should be able to see all of them in the Center itself, and be sure you get the map for visitors when you first check in. Enjoy!

Wildflowers blooming February to April in Central Texas:

Amblyolepis setigera (Huisache daisy)

Castilleja indivisa (Entireleaf indian paintbrush)

Callirhoe involucrata (Winecup)

Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf coreopsis)

Coreopsis tinctoria var. tinctoria (Golden tickseed)

Dracopis amplexicaulis (Clasping coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea (Eastern purple coneflower)

Lupinus texensis (Texas bluebonnet)

Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy)

Oenothera speciosa (Pink evening primrose)

Salvia roemeriana (Cedar sage)

Tradescantia gigantea (Giant spiderwort)

 

From the Image Gallery


Huisache daisy
Amblyolepis setigera

Texas indian paintbrush
Castilleja indivisa

Winecup
Callirhoe involucrata

Lanceleaf coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata

Golden tickseed
Coreopsis tinctoria var. tinctoria

Clasping coneflower
Dracopis amplexicaulis

Eastern purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea

Texas bluebonnet
Lupinus texensis

Blackfoot daisy
Melampodium leucanthum

Pink evening primrose
Oenothera speciosa

Cedar sage
Salvia roemeriana

Giant spiderwort
Tradescantia gigantea

More Wildflowers Questions

Legal to mow wildflowers in HOA in Royse City, TX
April 21, 2012 - We live out in the country in Rockwall County, Texas. Is it legal to mow the wildflowers on our 2 acre lots? The HOA documents we committed to require the homesites to be maintained, but there is di...
view the full question and answer

Project involving wildflower seeds for Earth Day
March 01, 2009 - Hello, I am trying to find a relatively quick and easy project involving wildflower seeds for an Earth Day Celebration. We have roughly 1,000 kids come through. In the past I have done wildflower se...
view the full question and answer

Best planting time for wildflower seeds in Texas
September 08, 2006 - My husband bought a large amount of wildflower seeds at the Ladybird Johnson's Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas several months ago, but neglected to ask when to plant them. Some were Bluebonnets a...
view the full question and answer

Texas wildflower blooms by month
July 20, 2007 - What Texas wildflowers bloom in January across the state? And the same for the following months throughout the year. Thank you.
view the full question and answer

Are there drug cartels on the bluebonnet trails from Lake City FL
February 08, 2012 - We plan to fly to TX to see bluebonnets but do not know if the weather and forest fires have destroyed them. If not, can you estimate the peak bloom time? We are 75 and 81 and move around rather s...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.