Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

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United States of America - Texas - Austin

Institution Code: NWRCA

BGCI Member: No

Entry arch and wetland pond at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas
Entry arch and wetland pond at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas

About the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Founded in 1982 by Lady Bird Johnson and Helen Hayes, The University of Texas at Austin's Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to conserving, restoring and creating healthy landscapes with native plants. Every day, the Wildflower Center's horticulture, landscape restoration, plant conservation, and environmental education programs bring to life Mrs. Johnson's vision in our gardens and natural areas, and in projects across North America.

Main Address:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Avenue
Austin
Texas 78739 United States of America

Telephone: (512) 232-0200
Fax: (512) 232-0156
URL: www.wildflower.org
Primary Email:

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Patrick Newman, Executive Director
    Curator's Name: Minnette Marr
    Plant Records Officer's Name: Joseph Marcus
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 6
    Educational Staff Number: 3
    Research Staff Number: 5
    Administration Staff Number:

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: State: Yes
    Status: Educational: Yes
  • Date founded: 1982
  • Physical Data
  • Natural Vegetation Area: Yes
    Natural vegetation area: Size: 111 Hectares
  • Landscaped Area: Yes
    Landscaped Area: Size: 4 Hectares
  • Total Area: 115 Hectares
    Latitude: 30.1863910
    Longitude: -97.8742180
    Altitude: 0.00 Metres
  • Locality: Information
  • Locality: Garden Name: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
  • Local Address: 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX, 78739
  • Locality: City: Austin
  • Locality: State: Texas

Features and Facilities

  • Herbarium: Yes
    Arboretum: Yes
    Arboretum Size: 7
  • Seed Bank: Yes
    Computer Plant Record System: Yes
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Shop: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: Yes
    Disabled access: Yes
  • Number of Visitors: 175000
    Number of Volunteers: 300

Plant Collections

  • Cultivation Taxa Num: 800
  • Special Collections:Seedling vouchers of commercially available wildflower species. Maintains a seed bank with long-term storage capacity, containing ~275 species.
  • Invasive Species Policy: Yes
    Plant Collection Policy: Yes

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: Yes
    Medicinal Plant Programme: No
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: Yes
    Reintroduction Programme: No

Research Programmes

  • Ecology: Yes
    Education: Yes
    Invasive Species Biology and Control: Yes
    Restoration Ecology: Yes
    Seed/Spore Biology: Yes
    Sustainability: Yes
    Land Restoration: Yes

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: Yes
    Education Signs in Garden: Yes
    Public Lectures/Talks: Yes
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: Yes
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: Yes
    Special Exhibitions: Yes
    Courses for School Children: Yes
    Courses for University/College Students: Yes
    Courses for General Public: Yes
    Education Programme: Yes

Studying ecological restoration in Texas

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Centre, Texas has a research program that examines fire effects on natural systems and as a tool for restoration. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center became an organized research unit of The University of Texas at Austin in 2006.

Research results have been tested in real-world applications including restoration of public land, private developments and governmental projects. We share these learning’s about improved ecological landscape design through public, professional and academic education. Past research projects include the use of prescribed burns to control invasive species, the development of native polycultural turfgrass, native plant performance on green roofs, rapid roadside re-vegetation using native species and erosion control using native species and compost.