Why Texas Will See Fewer Bluebonnets this Year

If you’ve ever driven down a Texas highway in the spring, you’ve probably seen the bright blue flowers covering the fields. Those are bluebonnets, and they’re kind of a big deal here in Texas. People take pictures with them, have picnics near them, and even plan road trips just to see them. But this year, finding those picture-perfect bluebonnet fields might be a little harder

Experts at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center say the bluebonnet season in 2025 won’t be as impressive as usual in Texas. Why? Because last fall, the area didn’t get enough rain, and that’s a big problem for wildflowers. Bluebonnet seeds start growing in the fall and keep growing through the winter before blooming in the spring. Without enough water early on, they struggle to grow and bloom the way they normally would.

Bluebonnet bloom shrinking in Texas this year

While eastern Texas, which saw more rainfall, is expected to have a relatively strong bloom, areas west of Austin are likely to see fewer of the iconic blue petals carpeting roadsides and fields.

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That doesn’t mean we will have to go without entirely. The Wildflower Center has taken measures to ensure that visitors will still get a taste of spring’s signature blossoms, tending to irrigated beds of bluebonnets that should provide at least a small burst of color.

Texas bluebonnets dwindling this year explained

Beyond bluebonnets, other wildflowers are facing similar struggles. Texas paintbrushes, which often grow alongside their blue counterparts, are also likely to be affected by the drought. But the forecast offers a silver lining. Fewer early spring blooms could leave more space for late-spring and summer wildflowers, like firewheels and purple horsemints, assuming rain levels improve in the coming months.

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