Wildflower season in the Highland Lakes announces itself each spring with a perky lupine known as the bluebonnet. And by spring, we mean February! The Texas State Flower often shows off its blue and white florets before the last frost has completely melted away.
As soon as we become besotted with bluebonnets, the fiery red-orange Indian paintbrush peppers the landscape. Coreopsis, Indian blankets, and Mexican hats headline a second wave of wildflowers, adding a spicy variety of colors to the scene.
Antelope horn milkweed, blue curls, wine cups, horsemint, spiderwort, lantana, and so many others bloom at just the perfect time to keep this dazzling show going through the summer.
Peak months are April and May, when the largest variety of wildflowers blossom at the same time. The late bloomers, like sunflowers and lantana, pop up in late summer and early fall.
Wildflower Timeline
(Months indicate when the flowers usually first appear. When they die off depends on the weather.)
MARCH
- Bluebonnet (often late February)
- Indian paintbrush
- Western buttercup
- Phlox
APRIL
- Blue curls aka fiddleneck
- Antelope horn milkweed
- Mexican blanket aka firewheel
- Winecup
- Verbena
- Stiff greenthread
- White prickly poppies
MAY
- Coreopsis aka tickseed
- Giant spiderwort
- Lantana
- Horsemint aka lemon bee balm
- Thistle
- Mexican hat
JUNE
- Common sunflower
- Yarrow