Buckley investigated the botany of the southern United States and discovered many new species of plants and shells. The plant genus Buckleya was named in his honor. He also was the state geologist of Texas (1860-1861); determined the height of Mount Buckley in the Great Smoky Mountains (named in his honor), in North Carolina, and several other summits; and was the scientific editor of the State Gazette in Austin, Texas (1871-1872). He wrote numerous scientific papers and a book on the trees and shrubs of the U.S.