diff --git a/esphome/components/tx20/tx20.cpp b/esphome/components/tx20/tx20.cpp
index ce4c20ede41..2819323d69f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tx20/tx20.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/tx20/tx20.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "tx20.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/progmem.h"
 
 #include <array>
 
@@ -10,8 +11,8 @@ ESPHOME_LOG_TAG(TAG, "tx20");
 static const uint8_t MAX_BUFFER_SIZE = 41;
 static const uint16_t TX20_MAX_TIME = MAX_BUFFER_SIZE * 1200 + 5000;
 static const uint16_t TX20_BIT_TIME = 1200;
-static const char *const DIRECTIONS[] = {"N", "NNE", "NE", "ENE", "E", "ESE", "SE", "SSE",
-                                         "S", "SSW", "SW", "WSW", "W", "WNW", "NW", "NNW"};
+PROGMEM_STRING_TABLE(DirectionStrings, "N", "NNE", "NE", "ENE", "E", "ESE", "SE", "SSE", "S", "SSW", "SW", "WSW", "W",
+                     "WNW", "NW", "NNW");
 
 void Tx20Component::setup() {
   this->pin_->setup();
@@ -37,7 +38,11 @@ void Tx20Component::loop() {
   }
 }
 
-std::string Tx20Component::get_wind_cardinal_direction() const { return this->wind_cardinal_direction_; }
+std::string Tx20Component::get_wind_cardinal_direction() const {
+  if (this->wind_direction_index_ >= DirectionStrings::COUNT)
+    return {};
+  return progmem_string(DirectionStrings::get_progmem_str(this->wind_direction_index_, 0));
+}
 
 void Tx20Component::decode_and_publish_() {
   ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "Decode Tx20");
@@ -135,9 +140,8 @@ void Tx20Component::decode_and_publish_() {
       }
       if (tx20_se == tx20_sb) {
         tx20_wind_direction = tx20_se;
-        if (tx20_wind_direction < 16) {
-          wind_cardinal_direction_ = DIRECTIONS[tx20_wind_direction];
-        }
+        if (tx20_wind_direction < 16)
+          this->wind_direction_index_ = tx20_wind_direction;
         ESP_LOGV(TAG, "WindDirection %d", tx20_wind_direction);
         if (this->wind_direction_degrees_sensor_ != nullptr)
           this->wind_direction_degrees_sensor_->publish_state(float(tx20_wind_direction) * 22.5f);
diff --git a/esphome/components/tx20/tx20.h b/esphome/components/tx20/tx20.h
index e4dc7dfab01..0d5b123ab64 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tx20/tx20.h
+++ b/esphome/components/tx20/tx20.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class Tx20Component final : public Component {
  protected:
   void decode_and_publish_();
 
-  std::string wind_cardinal_direction_;
+  uint8_t wind_direction_index_{0xFF};  // 0xFF until the first reading
   InternalGPIOPin *pin_;
   sensor::Sensor *wind_speed_sensor_{nullptr};
   sensor::Sensor *wind_direction_degrees_sensor_{nullptr};