There are a million things I love about living in Texas. But wildflower season definitely has a spot at the very top of the list!

Texas is home to endless fields of primroses, poppies, and of course our signature bluebonnets. If you’re new to the Texas area, you might be wondering where to find these spring beauties. 

One of the prettiest places I’ve been (and winner of “The Most Beautiful Town Square” in the state), is Georgetown: The Red Poppy Capital of Texas. Here’s why you should visit Georgetown, TX and everything to know before you go.

The History of the Georgetown Red Poppies

We decided to stop in Georgetown for a day on our way down to Austin, TX for the weekend. We were lucky enough to catch red poppy season right as the flowers hit their peak bloom!

Georgetown is famous for its red poppies that crop up in local parks, businesses, and front yards all over town. The town lore is that an American soldier fighting in World War I sent the first poppy seeds to his mother from Europe. She planted them in her front yard (which is still located at 507 East 7th Street) and birds, wind, and people spread them all over town. 

The poppies ended up growing so profusely there over the years that in 1990, Georgetown was certified by local residents and the Texas Legislature as the “Red Poppy Capital of Texas.” Now the whole town carefully cultivates the poppies and celebrates them annually with a Red Poppy Festival. 

Where to Find Red Poppies in Georgetown

There are thousands of red poppies in Georgetown, but the thickest fields and patches of them are only in certain spots. Here’s a comprehensive list of the best places to find red poppies when you visit.

  • Front Yard at 313 E 8th Street – The entire front yard of this charming old country house is filled to the brim with red poppies, and the owners are kind enough to allow tourists to take pictures of them! Keep in mind that this is private property, so be sure to be respectful.
  • Corner of 5th & Myrtle Street – There is a lovely patch of red poppies shaded by some nice big trees at this spot. Since many of the the poppies are in direct sunlight (which isn’t ideal for taking pictures of human faces), this can be a really good place to get some portraits. My favorites were some that I took leaning down to smell the poppies.
  • Backyard Shed at 500 S Elm Street – The owners of this property build a little shed and a pretty bright blue bench behind their poppy patch just so that visitors could take pictures there! It’s such a cute spot.
  • Edwards Park – Just beside a cute little children’s playground there is a nice cluster of poppies on the street corner.
  • Sunken Garden – This park has poppies growing in flower beds and a huge fountain with their flower petals floating on the water. It is so dreamy.

If you’re looking for even more places to see red poppies, make sure you stop by the visitor center located in the Georgetown square. They have tons of free maps available with all of the red poppy hot spots marked for you! 

What Else to See in Georgetown

While you’re in Georgetown, there are lots of other charming spots to visit after you’ve snapped red poppy pictures to your heart’s content!

Gus’s Drugs Murals

I think the prettiest place in Georgetown (aside from the fields of red poppies, of course) was actually the local drugstore! Gus’s Drugs has two HUGE murals on the side of the building. One of them looks like a Georgetown postcard, and the other is covered in huge red poppies. I’m obsessed with murals, so I loved them. The bright colors are amazing!

Lark & Owl Booksellers

Another local gem in Georgetown is the independent bookstore Lark & Owl. It’s the cutest shop, with a great selection of unique and affordable souvenirs in addition to all of the books for sale. There’s even a cafe with a lovely garden and outdoor seating attached to one side of the building. If you want to buy something to commemorate your trip or if you just love to be in the presence of books like I do, definitely go.

The Georgetown Square

Since Georgetown was honored with the moniker “Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas,” it’s definitely worth your while to take a walk around all of the pretty storefronts and historic buildings! There are some great restaurants downtown, loads of antique shops, and my personal favorite stop: a specialty hot sauce store called Mikey V’s. The owner handcrafts his own recipes for a variety of hot sauces, BBQ sauces, and other interesting treats with crazy ingredients like ghost peppers or ground scorpion! 

Tips for Visiting Georgetown

We absolutely loved our time in Georgetown, and we would recommend a visit to anybody! Here are a few things to know before you go.

1. Red poppies only bloom for a limited time.

This is probably obvious, but red poppies only bloom for a few weeks every spring. If you’re visiting to see them, check Georgetown’s Instagram and Website for updates on whether or not the poppies have bloomed yet.

2. Plan to visit for about one day.

Like I mentioned earlier, we stopped by Georgetown on our way down to Austin for the weekend. I think it was honestly my favorite part of our whole trip! Visiting for about a day allowed us to take all the pictures we wanted, wander in a few shops, and grab a bite to eat. Then it was only a 30-minute drive back to our Air BnB.

3. Don’t forget about the visitor center.

If you have any questions about where you’re going or what to do, go to the visitor center on the square. The women we met there were so warm and welcoming, and they have dozens of helpful maps for downtown and all sorts of things to do in the hill country area.

I hope you get to experience and fall in love with Georgetown: The Red Poppy Capital of Texas just like we did. 

If you’re looking for more places to see beautiful flowers in Texas, check out my post about the Ennis bluebonnets.

If you’re looking for more fun things to do in the Austin area, check out my travel series on our adventures there.