Spring Color in The Natural State
Spring in Arkansas bursts into a showy palette of color as the wide variety of wildflowers native to The Natural State begin to bloom. The dogwoods, redbuds, and jonquils of March and April soon give way to a host of wildflowers, which provide a procession of blooms throughout the summer season.
Arkansas’s roadsides support numerous of wildflowers -- in fact, the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) has designated several scenic wildflower drives across the state that feature interesting varieties.
Since 1983, the AHTD has been involved with beautification efforts that include wildflower plantings, wildflower routes, reforestation, landscaping, native plant preservation, billboard permitting and junkyard screening. Inspired by the national program of the same name, Operation Wildflower, Arkansas’s program has brought together the efforts of gardens clubs, church groups, schools, civic organizations, and state and federal agencies.
Almost 1,000 miles of Arkansas highways have been designated and wildflower routes and the AHTD has also reduced mowing and limited the application of herbicides on the routes to encourage floral growth.
Click here to see a map of suggested wildflower routes and photographs of some of the flowers found along these drives.