Tyler Azalea Trail & 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.
The Azalea Trail Today
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).
2020 Tyler Azalea Trails
IMPORTANT NOTE Concern over the spread of the Corona virus has resulted in cancellation of many Azalea Trail events. Also, some gardens that have been open to the public in the past might not be open this year, and the Azalea Belles will not be on duty. For details and a list of cancellations, visit the website of the Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau |
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, at 315 N. Broadway, 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 and Trail Maps For more information, printable trail maps, and bloom reports, we recommend a visit to the website of the |
The Azalea Belles
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The official greeters of the Azalea Trail are known as the Azalea Belles, young women from the local area who serve as Tyler ambassadors along the trails. The Belles, dressed in antebellum gowns, have an opportunity to promote Tyler, greet visitors and pose for photographs in front of scenic azaleas and spring flowers in the historic Brick Street District.
The Belles are 9th and 10th grade students and are chosen each year from area high schools or home school families. It's an honor to be chosen as one of the Azalea Belles, a tradition that dates back many years.
Each participant is assigned a long antebellum style dress for the duration of the Trails. Two or three Belles are assigned to each posing location/home.
Freshman and sophomore high school girls residing in Smith County are eligible to apply.
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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Quaint cottage along the Tyler Texas Azalea & Spring Flower Trails |
Tulips in full bloom in Tyler along the Azalea & Spring Flower Trails |
Yellow Azaleas |
Purple Creeping Phloxl |
Dogwoods in Spring in Tyler Texas |
Lady Bankshire Roses g on the Tyler TX Azalea Trail |
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 |
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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 and Rose Museum (TylerTexasOnline staff photo) |
(courtesy of Google Maps)
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
In addition to the Azalea Trail photo gallery shown below, we've also included various azalea varieties that we have grown over the years. All photographs were taken by the author.