In 1985, First Lady Dottie Martin worked to create a program to beautify the highways of North Carolina. This set the stage for the establishment of the Wildflower Program. Today, the program has more than 1,500 acres of flower beds across the state.
Wildflower beds are installed and maintained across the state by Roadside Environmental personnel in each of the fourteen highway divisions. Many of these beds are marked by the wildflower sign pictured above.
This booklet is intended as a reference to identify the wildflowers planted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation as well as some of the naturally occurring ones growing along North Carolina highways. Both botanical and common names are listed on the following pages. Photographs with descriptions and planting information are arranged by color.
Also contained, the installation techniques used by Roadside Environmental personnel. These instructions may vary according to the scale of your wildflower planting. If you are interested in wildflower gardening, the back cover notes how you can receive additional information.
We hope this booklet will be useful as you drive along our highways and in your own wildflower gardening endeavors. Remember, for your own safety, do not stop and pick the wildflowers. Please leave them for everyone to enjoy!