Experts predict a bright and early wildflower season in Texas in 2023.

Texans should prepare for a bountiful and lush wildflower season this year.

Wildflower season in Texas will be especially lush in 2023, according to experts at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin.

“I think this is going to be an above average spring, especially when it comes to blue nets,” says Andrea DeLong-Amaia, director of horticulture at the Center. “We had a good autumn rain when the seedlings were just starting to appear, and this continued all winter.”

Rains are not the only factor influencing the start of the wildflower season. Temperatures in Texas year-round can cause wildflowers to bloom earlier or later.

“We had more rainfall than usual in the fall, which is a good thing, because that’s when not only bluecaps sprout, but other wildflowers as well,” said Julie Marcus, senior horticulturist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. “But we have had these warmer temperatures, warm seasonal temperatures that have caused them to bloom a little earlier. Now we’re a little worried that they’ll peak earlier than usual.”

Weather maps provided by KXAN meteorologist and Wildflower Center advisory board member David Yeomans show that January and February in 2023 were significantly warmer in Texas than a year earlier.

“The hotter it gets, the earlier they start blooming,” DeLong-Amaia said.

Although there are five species of “blue net” found in Texas, the most common one, the Texas bluecap, usually peaks in central Texas in early April, but weather conditions across Texas can cause the flowers to bloom earlier. than usual.

According to Marcus, here in north Texas, the peak season for wildflowers is usually 10 to 12 days after the peak season in central Texas. This means North Texas residents can expect to see the most spring wildflowers in late March and early April this year.

Experts say last summer’s weather patterns could also affect wildflower growth in the state. The drought experienced by much of Texas during the summer months of 2022 could contribute to a bountiful wildflower season this year.

“Perhaps the drought led to the death of some grasses,” explains DeLong-Amaia. “This opens up soil space for blue nets and other spring-blooming annuals to grow.”

While Texans wait to see blue hats cover the roadsides, other flowers like mountain laurel, Carolina jasmine and Mexican plum are currently in bloom, according to the Wildflower Center.

“Mexican plums” [in particular] it attracts a lot of different pollinators,” says DeLong-Amaya. “It’s a lot of fun just to stand and watch what comes up. There is something new every day as the season progresses.”

According to Marcus, flowers like Indian brush and Gaillardia, also known as Indian blanket or firewheel, usually bloom at the same time as the bluecaps.

According to Marcus, the Indian brush has a symbiotic relationship with blue nets, but since Texas had a drier year than usual, the Indian brush may bloom a little later than usual.

Meanwhile, flowers like gaillardia and pink evening primrose, which love drier conditions, should bloom on schedule.

In early spring, North Texas residents may see flowers such as Phlox drummondii, anemone, Carolina jasmine, and coral honeysuckle. According to Marcus, there may also be a vine soon, which blooms around the same time that hummingbirds return to Texas.

“Go and enjoy the wildflowers,” Marcus said. “It looks like it’s going to be a big year, especially for the bluebonnets.”

When North Texas residents head out to enjoy the wildflowers and photograph the vibrant flowers, it’s important to keep safety in mind.

Marcus reminds those who decide to stop on the side of the highway to stay off the road and be safe.

“We always tell people to respect the fence lines and not violate the borders, but the main thing is to be safe,” Markus said. And try to choose a seat where someone has already sat, instead of creating a new seat where you have trampled the entire area. Since bluecaps are annuals, if they are trampled or crushed, they will not be able to acclimatize to grow seeds and produce seeds for the next year or years.”

There are other places where North Texans can enjoy wildflowers. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Fort Worth Botanical Garden, and North Texas Nature Centers provide a stunning display of all that the 2023 wildflower season has to offer.

“I would advise people in these areas to respect the gardens,” Marcus said.

Luckily for Texans, early spring isn’t the only time to enjoy the state’s wildflowers. Marcus said that some late spring flowers such as Coreopsis, Horsemint, Black Eyed Susan, Greenfruit Branch, Powdery Blue Sage, Lantana, Zexmenia and Four-Legged Daisy should appear in late April and May.

“We are very lucky in Texas to have color all year round,” Marcus said.

As this vibrant wildflower season kicks off in Texas, it’s important to remember that while blue hats are an iconic symbol of Texas, there are many other types of flowers to enjoy.

“I hope people will look beyond blue bonnets because there is so much more,” Markus said.

Flowers to See for the 2023 Wildflower Season

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