Where to Find Wildflowers in the Lone Star State This Spring

Where to Find Wildflowers in the Lone Star State This Spring
Article and graphics by Miranda L. Williams; flower photographs by LaShara J. Nieland and WIlla F. Finley

Flower descriptions and lore from Lone Star Wildflowers: A Guide to Texas Flowering Plants

LaShara J. Nieland and Willa F. Finley

After an unusually wet and chilly winter for generally mild-weathered West Texas, it seems only reasonable that spring fever be just as rampant this May as the wildflowers have been from such a winter.

As April held fast to its soggy reputation, however, we found our spring fever turning into cabin fever. Now that school is finally beginning to wind down and temperatures are starting to climb, West Texans are anxious to enjoy the good weather and sunshine that they've so long been deprived of. Patience has been rewarded with carpets of color, and fragrances abound.

Pack some antihistamines and sunscreen and head to your nearest state or national park to check out the flourishing spring blooms. On your way don't forget to pick up a copy of Texas Tech University Press's Lone Star Wildflowers, with its luscious color photos, historical information, and flower folklore. For a sampling of what's in store in this book, additional field guide recommendations, and a guide to which plants are blooming in various West Texas parks right now, read more >>.

Big Bend Flowers www.visitbigbend.com

1. Texas Mountain Laurel – This flower’s clusters of rich purple flowers are reminiscent of wisteria and have a delightful smell very much like the fragrance of grape Kool-Aid.

2. Big Bend Bluebonnet – These flowers have been in bloom in the park since early April. Legends abound about how the lovely bluebonnet came into existence. One story explains that the flowers are chunks of sky knocked down by warriors fighting in the Happy Hunting Ground.

3. Huisache Daisy – This fragrant yellow “early herald of spring” can be found in the southeastern part of the park. “In a rainy year . . . the flowers become quite large and especially delicious, both to the human eye and nose, as well as to the taste buds of butterflies.”

Palo Duro Flowers www.palodurocanyon.com

1. Indian Blanket – The name “Indian Blanket” comes from an old legend about a blanket weaver who wished to thank the Great Spirit for his many gifts. The old man used the colors of the sunset in weaving the most exquisite blanket he had ever made. At his request, he was buried in this yellow, red, and brown blanket so that he could present it as a gift to his Maker. In return, the Great Spirit covered the land with this flower, which displays all the colors of the sunset, just like the blanket.

2. Star thistle (a.k.a. cornflower) – Star thistle . . . came to the United States from the Mediterranean region in Europe, where, despite the beautiful blue flowers, it was despised as a weed in past centuries. In fact, it was called “hurtsickle” because the wiry stems blunted farmers’ sickles during the grain harvest. It quickly became naturalized in this country and has since redeemed itself not only as a wonderful roadside flower but also as a domesticated addition to home gardens.

3. Bee Blossom – Also known as Gaura, and waving butterfly. “Gaura comes from a Greek word meaning “superb,” a fitting name for this handsome wildflower. Another picturesque name, “waving butterfly,” was conferred because its four petals resemble fluttering butterfly wings, and the long anthers, the butterfly’s antennae.” “The Lakota people are said to have used it as a “horse catcher” by rubbing the plant on their hands before going out to round up their horses.”

4. Purple Foxglove – The foxglove got its common name from its role in an old children’s story about a fox who wanted to sneak up on some chickens. His toenails kept clicking and alarming the birders before he could make a meal of them, so he deviously slipped the blooms of this flower over his paws like gloves and was able to raid the henhouse quietly.

Guadalupe Mountain Flowers www.nps.gov/gumo/index.htm

1. Indian Paintbrush – According to the legend, [Indian Paintbrushes] were originally green leafy plants that were dipped in paints by a Native American artist to make a picture of a sunset on a deerskin, and as they were discarded, the plants took root and grew, their leaves still colored by the paints.

2. Blackfoot Daisy – The genus name Melampodium means “black foot,” referring to the dark, foot-shaped bract under the ray flowers.

3. Silverleaf Nightshade – Although the berries should never be eaten on their own, Native Americans and Mexicans make a delicious white cheese, called asadero, using the crushed yellow fruits of this plant to coagulate the milk.

4. Jimsonweed (a.k.a. Datura) – The name “jimsonweed,” or “Jamestown weed,” is derived from a serendipitous military victory by American colonists against the British army in 1676. The Royalists ate a pot of wild datura greens that caused them to hallucinate for several days, allowing the Americans to take advantage of the British army’s compromised condition.

About the authors: LaShara J. Nieland and Willa F. Finley, Texas natives who have worked together on wildflower research and school presentations since their college days at Abilene Christian University, developed their easy-to-follow guidebook after years of experience in teaching secondary school science students (and their parents!) how to recognize and appreciate Texas wildflower species. They observed that flower enthusiasts could most easily identify flowers by color groupings.