Texas – As wildflower season arrives in Texas, highways are once again lined with vibrant reds, yellows, pinks, and blues. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is reminding travelers to find safe locations to enjoy the scenery and is recommending its Safety Rest Areas as ideal stopping points.
These designated rest areas provide parking, picnic spots, restrooms, and information about local attractions. Whether on a long road trip or a short drive, visitors can use these facilities to take in the seasonal beauty while ensuring safety on the roads.
To help travelers locate wildflower blooms, TxDOT intern Blaze Foster has developed an interactive map showing where various wildflower species have been planted near rest areas and state parks. “The map layers show the public where these wildflowers are, which rest areas and state parks have them, and the bloom dates in the pop-up,” Foster explained. “It’s good to have it all in one place so you know where flowers are and what public land is nearby.”
Currently, the map tracks Texas paintbrush, common sunflower, bluebonnets, prairie verbena, and Indian paintbrush based on public reports. Foster plans to expand it with additional data, including the locations and types of seeds TxDOT plants in future seasons.
Each fall, TxDOT plants approximately 30,000 wildflower seeds to enhance the beauty of Texas roads while supporting ecosystems. These flowers provide essential habitats for pollinators, birds, and insects, contributing to the health of more than 5,000 species of wildflowers and native grasses.
According to TxDOT vegetation specialist Travis Jez, dry winter conditions may result in slightly delayed blooms in some areas this year. However, as temperatures warm, travelers can expect to see more wildflowers appearing along Texas roadways.
