A Guide to Texas Wildflowers with Unusual Names

There are many beautiful wildflowers growing in Texas. They come in reds, yellows, blues and shades of purple. They grow along the streams and rivers, in barrow ditches, and people cultivate them in their gardens. Some are old flowers named by the first settlers that came to Texas. Lady Bird Johnson was instrumental in expanding our knowledge about Texas Wildflowers. She was able to have TXDOT not mow the barrow ditches until the wildflowers bloomed, so visitors could ride down the countryside and enjoy them.

One of the more unusual names for a wildflower is the Toadflax. Its scientific name is Nuttallanthus texanus (Linaria texana). These tall green sports a pale blue-violet flower. The leaves are green and slender and are found at the bottom of the plant. This wildflower is actually an herb. Toadflax is a biennial plant, taking two years to complete its life cycle.

Antelope Horns is another special name for a different Texas Wildflower. This herbaceous plant grows to about 25 inches tall. Their flowers are green with purple tops. They bloom from middle of spring to early summer. The flower’s top is called a hood. It gets the horns name from a small plate found on this hood. They are found mostly in open prairies. They are found in abundance in Texas, and are seen in the middle states of the United States. The Antelope Horns are listed as poisonous, but many medicinal herbs are made from it.

The Bishop’s Weed is a common beautiful wildflower. Although it is not native to Texas it grows nearly over the whole state. It has bright white flowers with a yellow middle. The flowers are on a tall slender stalk. It is also known as the Bishop’s Flower. Handling this plant can cause you to have a rash and in some people an allergic reaction. Bees, butterflies and birds are drawn to this plant. It is a perennial.

Another strange name is the Horse Crippler or better known as the Devil’s Head. Its scientific name is Echinocactus lindhemeri. This plant is part of the cactus family and has thorns to prove it. It is a succulent a plant that retains water usually found in very arid areas and very dry soil conditions. Its beautiful flowers vary from red to rose or mauve colors to a near white. It gets its name from its spines can pierce a horses ankle when the horse steps on it and it will make him lame for days. Its stem is a usually round and squatty and varies from a dark green to a light green.

Although the Ratama is a low sprawling bushy tree, it has beautiful flowers. It is listed as a wildflower. It has flexible stems with two rows of small leaves. They can live in drought conditions and lots of sun. The stems and the bark are both green. It produces beautiful yellow blossoms through the summer. When they shed the ground is covered with a wonderful yellow carpet. During the winter the leaves and stems fall off. It is also called the dragon tree. Wildlife including large butterflies loves these blossoms.

Texas has many more beautiful wildflowers. Scenic drives are noted in many of the south Texas towns to show them off to traveling visitors.