RALEIGH – North Carolina's wildflowers aren't just beautiful — they reflect decades of care and commitment by N.C. Department of Transportation crews.
Since 1985, stretches of highway across the state have flourished with blooms that support pollinators and enhance the travel experience, thanks to the NCDOT Wildflower Program. This week, NCDOT is celebrating the 2025 Wildflower Award winners, honoring the teams that made our roadsides brighter and more beautiful last year.
“From planning to planting, these crews pour energy and care into every bloom," said Jeremy Goodwin, NCDOT's roadside environmental engineer. “After four decades, it's amazing to see how something that started as a small idea has grown into a statewide celebration of nature, community and color."
The Wildflower Awards, sponsored by The Garden Club of North Carolina, honors the best roadside flower beds in each region of the state. These awards shine a spotlight on NCDOT staff who go the extra mile to keep North Carolina highways blooming.
The Wildflower Awards were presented for beds that bloomed in 2025. The winners are:
William D. Johnson Daylily Award, for best daylily bed:
- First Place – Division 4, I-587 and Downing Street in Wilson County
- Second Place – Division 7, U.S. 29 in Rockingham County
Best Regional Wildflower Planting, Eastern Region:
- First Place – Division 4, I-42 at mile marker 361 in Wayne County
- Second Place – Division 2, U.S. 70 and N.C. 148 in Lenoir County
Best Regional Wildflower Planting, Central Region:
- First Place – Division 9, U.S. 52 at Perch Road in Stokes County
- Second Place – Division 10, I-485 Outer Loop in Mecklenburg County
Best Regional Wildflower Planting, Western Region:
- First Place – Division 12, U.S. 321 at mile marker 19 in Gaston County
- Second Place – Division 14, I-40 at mile marker 34 in Haywood County
Best Overall Division Wildflower Program:
- First Place – Division 4, which includes Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Wayne and Wilson counties.
- Second Place – Division 7, which includes Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Orange and Rockingham counties.
The NCDOT Wildflower Program is celebrating 40 years, with many more seasons of color ahead. A Flickr album with photos of the 2025 winners is available here.