RESEARCH

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is part of The University of Texas at Austin’s College of Natural Sciences and has a long history of supporting basic and applied research by internal and external researchers. Much of the research has focused on using native plants and thoughtful design to address environmental problems, particularly water scarcity, climate change and loss of healthy ecosystems.

Our longest running research program looks at the impact of prescribed fire on Central Texas ecosystems. This ongoing, 20-year experiment provides insight into how plant communities respond to environmental threats, such as invasive species and climate change, and can aid land stewards in developing management plans for grasslands across Texas.

A signature accomplishment of the research program was the development of a native turfgrass, Habiturf®, a resilient and water-saving alternative to commonly used turfgrasses. This product is now commercially available as seed. Also, the Center’s research on green roofs led to the patented SkySystem™, a planting medium developed specifically for growing native plants on roofs in hot climates.

In 2021, we joined the university’s growing field station network to better foster impactful environmental research and broaden the reach of our science and conservation programs.

Conduct Research Here

Interested in accessing our gardens or natural spaces for research? The Wildflower Center’s 284 acres offer a diverse set of conditions for conducting field research across many areas of ecology and biology. Learn more.