When you are out exploring the natural beauty of Texas and you come across the most stunning pink wildflower, you are certain to wonder what it is you have found! If this is the case for you, then we are here to help.
Please note, we are only focusing on the most common pink wildflowers in Texas, there are endless varieties, species, and subspecies, and it is near impossible to name all of them.
However, it is likely you have found one of the more common ones, so, read on and find out which one you have found!
1. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
These wildflowers grow in wet meadows and can also be found around lake shores. You should look for their clusters or deep pink flowers to help identify them.
If you want to plant a range of pollinating wildflowers in your garden then swamp milkweed is the perfect wildflower to plant. It produces clusters of incredibly fragrant flowers which are attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Let us not forget its incredible importance to Monarch caterpillars, as they feast on its leaves. They are perennial and bloom from summer into fall each year.
2. Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)
Spreading dogbane is a prolific grower, which is why it is not only found in Texas but also in Europe too. It is also known as dogbane due to the fact that it is highly poisonous to dogs, and also to humans!
Spreading dogbane has beautiful, small, pink, flowers shaped like bells, and it smells quite similar to lilac. You can find this pink wildflower in Texas’ sandy-soiled stream banks. These flowers are also perennial and bloom in the summer.
3. Crown Vetch (Securigera varia)
Even though the typically large and pink, clover-like blooms of the crown vetch are very beautiful this plant is actually an invasive species in America.
It is actually native to Africa, Asia, and Europe, but was introduced locally to be used as a ground cover to control soil erosion. It will often grow on sunny and sandy banks of Texas where it is able to push out less hardy plants.
If you did decide to plant Crown Vetch, then you would want to choose an isolated location where it is away from flower gardens.
You also need to control its growth, so it does not spread further to other areas and invade other native ecosystems and species. These plants are also perennial and enjoy growing from summer to fall.
4. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Common milkweed is fragrant, and pink, and will attract many pollinators. There are around 450 species of insects that feed on this flower, including moths, beetles, wasps, butterflies, flies, bees, and even ants!
Common milkweed is also known for pushing out other plants or even smothering them! This means that anyone who considers using it in their own garden would need to plant it in an isolated location where it has little to nothing else to compete with.
However, in wild habitats, common milkweed grows almost anywhere! Seek out its purple-pink blooms in forest clearings, abandoned fields, and even in the ditches along roadsides. This is another perennial flower that grows in the summer.
5. Large Beardtongue (Penstemon grandiflorus)
Large beardtongue is pretty easy to spot, and you will know you have found it if you come across flowers that are large and tubular, similar to lavender, growing on upright stalks.
Native pollinators such as bees, birds, bumblebees, and even hummingbirds adore this plant. It is a native wildflower in Texas, it is also endemic, so it only grows in the lone star state.
In some other states, this flower is actually threatened. It is actually advertised that people should plant this wildflower in gardens, using sandy, gravelly soil, in order to help preserve this beautiful plant! It is a perennial plant that blooms from late spring into early summer.
6. Trumpetweed (Eutrochium fistulosum)
Trumpetweed naturally grows in wet forests, prairies, and roadside ditches. It has an impressive height, able to grow to an impressive 144 inches tall! It is also known as Joe Pye Weed and has a pungent scent of vanilla.
It is also a much-loved plant by honeybees and butterflies, while songbirds tend to enjoy its seeds! It is also recommended to plant these flowers in your garden if you have enough space for these beautiful giants. These plants are perennial, blooming from summer until fall.
7. Springbeauty (Claytonia virginica)
When spring hits in Texas, these wildflowers explode into color, painting the landscape with dashes of white, pink, and yellow blooms. However, if you take a closer look you will notice that every flower is star-shaped and intricately lined with delicate pink veins.
These flowers are also very attractive to the native bee population, as they love to eat the sweet nectar inside the flowers. Springbeauty is perennial, and as you can imagine, they bloom in spring.
8. Wild Mint (Mentha arvensis)
You may not think that wild mint would be pink, but it is. Wild mint is a native wildflower, and it produces beautiful clusters of pink, white, or even lavender bell-shaped flowers.
However, like many other species of mint, their smell is at its most potent when the leaves get damaged. If you are hunting for some wild mint, it is best to look in Teas wetlands, in areas with partial sunlight.
They grow best on river banks and stream banks, so this would be the best place to start looking for this plant. Wild mint usually grows no bigger than 39 inches tall, and it is a perennial grower, blooming in late spring to early summer. They are also fairly hardy as well!
9. Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria)
The blooms of this flower might be very small, but they compensate for this with their exquisite color. If you take a very close look at the petals of this plant you will notice an incredibly intricate dotted pattern of purple, pink, and white.
These plants are native to Europe, however, this specific wildflower is a naturalized species in the lone star state. It actually grows so well in Texas that it can easily take over ditches, roadsides, and entire fields in some cases!
While the nectar of this plant is actually super attractive to butterflies, bees, and skippers, it does not actually need help from these pollinators. You see, the Deptford pink is a plant that is able to self-pollinate.
It does not need to rely on insect pollinators, which is a part of the reason it is doing so well! These flowers are annual or biennial, and will bloom from spring to fall. They also make great garden flowers, but can easily take over.
10. Trailing Phlox (Phlox nivalis)
If you are out looking for a Trailing Phlox in Texas, search in oak barrens and sandy pine areas. This flower will cover the ground in large heaps of pink, white, and purple flowers when spring comes around.
These flowers actually make for a hardy ground cover and are also an awesome source of food for pollinators after they wake from their winter hibernation. They are also known for creating beautiful cascades of pink from hanging baskets.
Should you put this into a hanging basket, you are sure to attract hummingbirds.
These plants are also brilliant for not-so-great gardeners, as they basically thrive on neglect, so they are the perfect plant for beginner gardeners. They are perennial and bloom from spring until summer.
11. Pink Fuzzybean (Strophostyles umbellata)
This native pink wildflower plant in Texas is actually on the brink of extinction in some areas, so if you see one, you are very lucky! If you did find one, it will probably be growing in sandy soil near fields or forests.
Curiously, the hot pink blooms of the Pink Fuzzybean flowers will fade to a soft peach color after they have been pollinated.
Sadly these flowers are not usually used in gardens either, as they need to be spread out and separated from other flowering plants to be able to grow properly. These plants are perennial and can be found blooming from summer until fall.
To Conclude
These are the most common pink wildflowers in Texas, if you spotted a gorgeous pink wildflower on an adventure, it was probably one of these, however, it could be one of many others.
Texas has so many native pink wildflowers, trying to figure out which one you have seen is not easy, however, hopefully, these 11 have helped you narrow it down. And, if you came across a Pink Fuzzybean, we certainly envy you!
If you want to grow any of these yourself, go for it, just make sure they won’t invade your garden. And, be sure to watch out for Dogbane!
I love sharing my experiences with individuals in this community, and I enjoy sharing some of the best tips I have learned over the years caring for my own garden at home.
In my articles, you will find the best flowers, most fragrant flowers you can plant in your garden, how to care for your favorite plants, informative guides and how-tos so you can have the best backyard in town!
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