Watching Cactus and Wildflowers
Feel free to observe, describe, and photograph flowers and inform park staff if you think something is noteworthy. But remember to help preserve our flowers. Do not pick or trample plants. Take only pictures and memories, and leave only footprints. Happy botanizing!

Elevation and weather play important roles in each season's blooming period; the higher elevations of the park generally bloom later, and the first blooms usually appear along the Rio Grande, in the lowest portions of the park.

What's Blooming?
Watch this page for updates and photographs regarding the spring blooming season. Of course, each year is different—the best way to experience Big Bend's blooms is for yourself.

What's Blooming now? — 2008

4 February - J. Sirotnak, Park Botanist
In the Big Bend, winter is aptly called the dry season. True to its name, the season has been dry, as was the fall season that preceded it. We had some snow in December and rain in January, but probably not enough to fuel mass flowering. Bluebonnet seedlings are few, but some can be found in sandy washes at lower elevations. If significant precipitation falls in February or early March, we could still see some germination of annuals and greater green-up of perennials.

Cactuses are still fairly well-hydrated from last summer. They should flower mid-March through April in the desert, and from May through early summer in the Chisos Mountains.

19 February - J. Sirotnak, Park Botanist
Don’t expect too much and you might not be disappointed. A few roadside bluebonnets and bi-colored mustards are flowering at lower elevations. Torrey yucca stalks are elongating on the lower end of the Old Maverick Road. Along the Rio, huisache and mesquite should have flowers by the end of the month, so at least the bees will have something to work with. Other odds and ends are popping up in sheltered washes, mostly below 2500’. Buds should start appearing on the spiny-fruited and blind prickly pears soon.

28 February - J. Sirotnak, Park Botanist

Cactus (or cacti, either is acceptable) are starting to bloom at low elevations.  Warnock’s cactus (Echinomastus warnockii) are in bloom and are in bud as high as 3000 feet.  On the limestone close to the Rio, Duncan’s cory cactus (Coryphantha duncanii) and golf ball cactus (Mammilaria lasiacantha) are in flower.  Rainbow cactus (Echinocereus dasyacanthus) are in bud at the lowest elevations.  Brown-flowered cactus (Echinocereus viridus var. russanthus), which I think is a misnomer because the abundant small flowers actually vary from light green to deep brick red,  are breaking bud at 3000-4000 feet.