Spring in Central Texas is getting ready to put on its annual color show, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has released its official floral forecast for 2026.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center gardens in bloom.
Dr. Sean Griffin, the Wildflower Center’s director of science and conservation, joined Trevor Scott in the studio to share what’s blooming and what central Texans should keep an eye on.
“It has been a relatively dry and warm fall and winter, “said Dr. Griffin, “So that means that they’re pretty early this year. We’re already seeing bluebonnets pop up in a lot of different spots around Austin. It’s really dependent on rainfall, and rainfall has been really variable. So, it’s going to be pretty variable in terms of timing and how many blooms we see.”
Dr. Sean Griffin, the Wildflower Center’s director of science and conservation, joined Trevor Scott in the studio to share what’s blooming and what central Texans should keep an eye on.
The forecast focuses on what people can expect from bluebonnet season this spring, including whether some areas may see a better showing than others and where those stronger blooms could pop up.
“Of course, I’m going to talk about the Wildflower Center. We have cultivated areas where we’re watering and taking care of those bluebonnets year-round. And so there should be good displays there. Good photo spots. And there should also be hidden gems throughout the Hill Country, so I invite people to go out and search.”
The Wildflower Center is also looking beyond bluebonnets to later-spring wildflowers, offering a preview of what may be blooming as the season rolls along.
“I’m still optimistic for really good displays later in May and early June. I love the fire wheel. The Black-Eyed Susans, those really pop and have red and yellow, these huge, beautiful fields. So, I’m really hoping that we’ll see a good display of those later, too.”
Indian paintbrush at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center gardens.
The center also works to highlight why wildflowers and other native plants matter, from supporting local ecosystems to helping keep Central Texas landscapes resilient.
“I’m the director of Science and Conservation at the Wildflower Center. And what we really focus on is landscape restoration, especially using prescribed fire to bring back a lot of the natural communities of flowers. So we do a lot of work with land managers around the state to understand fire and methods of seeding, that kind of thing.”
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To learn more about the Wildflower Center’s work and how you can enjoy the diverse beauty of Spring in Texas, head to their website!