A s we march into spring, fields everywhere will begin blossoming with colorful Texas wildflowers. Of course, every Texan is fond of our state flower, the Texas Bluebonnet, but there are thousands of different varieties of wildflowers across the state that are worth mentioning. Join us as we take a look at five of our favorite Texas wildflowers and see if you can spot all of them this spring! 1. Lazy daisy, Aphanostephus ramosissimus Also known as the plains dozedaisy, or plains lazydaisy, this is one of the many varieties of daisy that can be found growing wild in Texas. Growing to about 18
3. Evening primrose, Oenothera speciosa The evening primrose, also called pinkladies, buttercups, or showy evening primrose, are pink flowers with soft, white, and yellow centers. The name speciosa
means “showy.” They are native to grasslands of Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and of course, Texas, but can be found as far south as Mexico. You’ll often find them in
open fields alongside other Texas wildflowers, adding a dash of pink to a dazzling array of colors. 4. Texas thistle, Cirsium texanum
inches, it is a beautiful white flower with dozens of long white petals radiating out of a central yellow disk. It is common in many parts of the southwestern and south central United States and grows in most parts of Texas with the exception of East Texas. During the spring and summer, it can be found blooming in wide open areas such as fields, meadows, and along roadsides. 2. Indian blanket, Gaillardia pulchella
Also called purple thistle, it is often considered a weed, but produces unique purple flowers that are just as lovely as any other wildflower. Their long, thin purple and pink flowers are arranged in a dome or sphere- like shape and are perfect for pollinators with long tongues or beaks - like butterflies and hummingbirds. This variety of thistle can be found in most parts of the state with the exception of the Panhandle. It is found in prairies, pastures, and open fields and blooms throughout the spring and summer beginning in April. 5. Common vetch, Vicia sativa Sometimes considered a weed, the common
vetch, or vetch, is often sown in fields for livestock fodder or green manure. The flowers are most commonly a bright
pink shade, and in rare cases white, and each branch has a creeping vine-like tendril that helps guide it as it grows. After pollination, the flowers produce little pods with fruit inside - it’s a legume! Vetch can be found in fields, meadows, roadsides, and residential areas. Although its current territory occupies the eastern half of the state, it has been found gradually expanding west. Want to learn about even more wildflowers Texas has to offer? Check out our full blog at germaniainsurance. com/blogs.
Indian blankets, or firewheels, are part of the sunflower family, but have distinct color patterns that inspire their common name. They are most commonly reddish orange in the center and transition to yellow on the outer part of the flower, but some varieties can be completely red. They are found all over the state in grasslands, prairies, pastures, and alongside roads during the spring. Indian blankets are yet another Texas wildflower that support pollinators - honey bees love them!
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