Oklahoma Wildflowers: Visiting the flyover state in spring

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Spring is my favorite time of the year! You literally see Mother Nature change our land from a winter brown to a vibrant color right before your eyes. And we see it all over. Ireland has the shamrock and everything turns green. Texas has fields of Bluebonnets where suddenly the brown grass turns purple and blue. Oklahoma takes it up a notch too in the spring as fields of yellow and red seem to pop up overnight. Sure, most people associate spring in Oklahoma with severe weather and tornadoes, but the state has so much more to offer. In fact, Oklahoma wildflowers are my favorite thing about spring in this flyover state.

Oklahoma Wildflowers: Bluebonnets

Texas may be known for its bluebonnets, but fortunately, it isn’t the only state where this beautiful wildflower grows natively. Although the bluebonnet fields in Oklahoma aren’t as prevalent, widespread, or celebrated as those in Texas, you can still find bluebonnets popping up beginning in late March or early April.  The closer you get to the Texas state line, the more likely you’ll be to find a field of bluebonnets in Oklahoma. But in a good wildflower year you can find them as far north as north Oklahoma City. Beyond bluebonnets, Oklahoma has a variety of other native wildflowers that bloom throughout the state.

Oklahoma Wildflowers: Indian Paintbrush

Not to be confused with the Indian Blanket, which is the Oklahoma state flower, the Indian Paintbrush is one of the most beautiful flowers that bloom natively in Oklahoma. If the weather is good in the fall then you can have some incredible flower fields of Indian Paintbrush in Oklahoma the following spring. What is incredible about the Indian Paintbrush is that on average only 40% of the available seeds bloom every spring. That means in most years you’re only seeing about half of the available flowers. If the weather is perfect then the beauty you see could look even better.

Imagine the field in the image above being 60% fuller.

Oklahoma Wildflowers: Canola Fields

Who could forget the fields of canola? Technically, this isn’t a wildflower; it’s a crop. But in spring, canola fields paint the Oklahoma landscape a vibrant shade of yellow.

Canola fields bloom rapidly so you only have about a week or two to see them at their peak. But they’re tough to beat. These fields are awesome. So awesome, in fact, that you can see them from space.

Another thing that makes Oklahoma wildflowers so great is that they don’t bloom until after Texas flowers have bloomed. Since Oklahoma sits north of Texas, the growing season begins later and ends later, too.

Texas wildflowers peak in early April whereas Oklahoma wildflowers peak mid-to-late April or in early May. It all depends on the weather.

So if the Texas Bluebonnets aren’t enough for you, take a quick drive north to Oklahoma a few weeks later, and you’ll experience even more beautiful wildflowers. Oklahoma can leave you breathless just like Texas did.

Oklahoma Wildflowers – Coreopsis

Just as the grass starts growing again and the trees get their leaves back, flower fields in Oklahoma start popping up everywhere.

Besides canola fields and Indian Paintbrush, there is another beautiful flower that blooms wild in Oklahoma. Many simply call them “bright yellow flowers” but the real name for these is Coreopsis.

Coreopsis is a sun-loving, low maintenance perennial with daisy-like flowers. They are drought tolerant, long-blooming, and happy to grow in poor, sandy or rocky soil which means you will probably see these on the side of the road providing easy access from your car.

These flowers don’t bloom until late into the spring and early summer. When most of the Oklahoma flowers have bloomed and gone to seed, these flowers are just getting started.

Look for them to start blooming around the middle of May.

Best places to see flower fields in Oklahoma

So where should you go to find wildflowers in Oklahoma? The Enid-Guthrie region has some fantastic canola fields. Around Guthrie, you’ll find some off of West Prairie Grove Road. You’ll also find some beautiful canola fields blooming north of Enid.

If you’re looking for Bluebonnet and Indian Paintbrush fields then you’ll want to head north from Oklahoma City a little bit. The Oklahoma City metro has a few big roadside areas, particularly along I35 just north of the Kilpatrick Turnpike and along I44 between I235 and I35. But you can also head south on I-44 from OKC to Chickasha. You’ll find some good blooms along the road in areas that are safe to pull over. Also, things get colorful near Turner Falls. You’ll even find wildflowers sprouting up in the highway median.

Oklahoma has a lot more to offer than just severe storms. And the fields prove it!

That right there should make you say, ” Sweet Mother Oklahoma….”

Do you know of a great flower field in Oklahoma to experience nature in full bloom? Drop us a comment and let us know where you have found the most vibrant, colorful spring flowers in the state. Or if you have a question or comment about Oklahoma’s wildflowers, we are happy to try and help!

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