If there’s a cover subject that’s been featured more than any other in our 52-year history, it’s most certainly the Texas bluebonnet. And while the beloved state flower can still be seen in the background of this month’s cover, it’s the rain lily that takes center stage. The flower joins four other underrated blooms featured in this month’s cover story.
Features Editor Chris Hughes drew inspiration from South Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which he moved close to in 2022. “My wife and I immediately became members and spent weekends roaming the grounds, in awe of the diversity of native Texas flora,” he says. “Like so many Texans, I marked wildflower season by the arrival of bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush on the sides of the highways. But the Wildflower Center showed us hundreds of other amazing flowers that attract pollinators and thrive in our extreme weather.”
That education made him want to be a more conscientious gardener, finding beauty in things like ocotillo or Gregg’s mistflower—considered something of a “garden thug” for its spreading capability. “It actually made me feel like more of a complete Texan,” he says.
What’s your favorite underappreciated wildflower? Share your pick with us at [email protected]. And for even more wildflower coverage, including a growing guide and scenic drives, visit texashighways.com/wildflowers.
From the March 2026 issue
