Tyler Azalea & Spring Flower Trail
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A highlight of each spring season in East Texas is the 10-mile long Tyler Azalea Trail guiding visitors through neighborhoods of quaint brick streets, historic homes, and residential gardens filled with blooming azaleas, dogwoods and tulips.
History of Azaleas in Tyler
The first Azaleas were planted in Tyler in 1929 by Maurice Shamburger, in the Lindsey Lane area. Other neighbors soon followed, and the area became well known for its springtime beauty.
Over the years the word spread across East Texas and beyond about Tyler azaleas. In 1960, the first marked tour routes were established to help guide tourists.
2023 Tyler Azalea Trails
Today, over 100,000 people from all over the USA visit Tyler each spring to attend the Azalea Trail. Two marked routes exist today: the Lindsey Trail and the Dobbs Trail (see area map below).
The next Azalea Trail is being held on March 24 - April 9, 2023. Signs directing visitors along the trails are posted well before the official dates.
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What to See Along the Azalea Trails
The trails also display a high concentration of white and pink Dogwoods, Redbud trees, Japanese Maples, and spring bulbs such as tulips and daffodils.
Featured along the trails is the Azalea National Historic District, established in 2003, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It comprises about 950 homes built in the first half of the 20th century, with a large concentration of structures from the 1930s when the oil boom had a huge economic impact on Tyler.
The two trails officially begin at the Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau, on the downtown square, and travel south. A good starting point is the corner of Houston Street and South Broadway Avenue.
Markers designate the routes that meander through the area streets for motorists. Actually, you can begin anywhere along the routes and not be disappointed.
Parking is generously provided by the First Presbyterian Church, near the corner of Dobbs and South Broadway.
For a map of the trails, visit the website of the Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau or their offices.
The Trail is nationally recognized, and has been the subject of articles in publications such as Southern Living and Texas Highways.
Bloom Reports, Detailed List of Events, and Trail Maps For more information, printable trail maps, and bloom reports, we recommend a visit to the website of the |
The Visit Tyler Rose City Ambassador Program
The Rose City Ambassador Program sponsored by Visit Tyler provides area students an opportunity to greet visitors and answer questions, earning community service hours, gaining knowledge about our city, and growing their communication skills. Visitors to Tyler will see them along the 2023 Azalea & Spring Flower Trail!
Participants in the program act as greeters at large community events throughout the year. The events/opportunities for volunteering begin with the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail in March/April and then continue with the Texas Rose Festival in October, the Azalea District Trail of Lights in December, and helping out at the new Downtown Tyler Visitor Center at various times throughout the year. Other opportunities that arise during the year will also give students a chance to be a Rose City Ambassador and earn additional community service hours.
Besides learning a greater knowledge of the city of Tyler, students will take away things such as speaking skills, schedule management and responsibility.
Eligible are all high school students (girls & boys) in Smith County or home school students who can be available for the specified events, and would enjoy working with visitors to Tyler. Students must be academically eligible because some events may be scheduled during school hours.
Photos from Recent Tyler Texas Azalea Trails (TylerTexasOnline Staff Photos)
The photos below were taken along the Tyler Azalea Trails. Blooms were well underway on azaleas, tulips, dogwoods, redbuds and other flowers and trees.
"You are Welcome to Walk Through our Back Yard" ... sign on the Tyler Texas Azalea & Spring Flower Trails |
Along Dobbs Street during the Tyler Texas Azalea & Spring Flower Trails
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Yellow Azaleas |
Purple Creeping Phloxl |
Dogwoods in Spring in Tyler Texas |
Lady Bankshire Roses on the Azalea Trail |
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 The Fitzgerald Home, 815 South Broadway Avenue, Tyler, Texas, on the Azalea Trail. Built in 1898, now restored ... includes the offices of Historic Tyler, Inc. On the National Register of Historic Places. |
 The Woman's Building, 911 South Broadway Avenue, Tyler, on the Azalea Trail between Dobbs Street and Lindsey Lane. This 3-story, Federal style structure built in 1932 is on the National Register of Historic Places |
That Other Tyler Flower: The Rose
Tyler is also the Rose Capital of America, the location of the Tyler Rose Garden, the nation's largest municipal rose garden, and the site of the Annual Texas Rose Festival held each October.
 The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden |
(courtesy of Google Maps)
Quick Trip Around the Tyler Azalea Trails!
Have you wondered what you might see along the Tyler Azalea Trails? We've prepared this short, 3-minute video highlighting scenes from recent years ... sit back and enjoy the azaleas, tulips, daffodils, dogwoods and more ... and turn up your volume for some easy-listening music!
Like all YouTube videos, you can click to run it full screen, and mute the music if you like.
East Texas Landscaping for Azaleas
At TylerTexasOnline, we love gardening, and landscaping, and East Texas is a great place for that pastime, especially during spring!
Pink azaleas in full bloom in Tyler Texas |
Among our favorite azaleas to grow, whether they are pink, salmon, red or white, have been Pride of Mobile, Formosa, George Tabor, Mrs. G.G. Gerbing, Christmas Cheer, Coral Bells and many others both in Tyler and in Louisiana.
East Texas Flower Photos
For more flower photographs, be sure to view the Helen Lee Daffodil Garden photo gallery showcasing millions of beautiful daffodils blooming near Gladewater.
We also have a gallery of East Texas Flowers, and another gallery of East Texas Birds for backyard nature lovers to explore.
Are you a hummingbird lover like us? Check out the photos and hummingbird videos in our Hummingbird Central website. And be sure to visit our new butterfly website at www.ButterfliesAtHome.com
A Garden for Pollinators and People
Pollinators like butterflies, birds, hummingbirds, bees, moths, bats, ants, beetles, and small mammals pollinate plants and are responsible for helping plants reproduce. Pollinating creatures travel from plant to plant carrying pollen on their bodies via a process that allows the transfer of genetic material critical to the reproductive system of most flowering plants.
This video showcases common pollinators found around the home, and some of the many flowers they help reproduce.
It runs about 6 minutes, so sit back and enjoy ... and turn up your volume for some easy-listening music!
Like all YouTube videos, you can click to run it full screen, and mute the music if you like.