Wilms was later appointed as an assistant in the moss section of the Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem and was also closely involved in the taxonomy of specimens collected by August Gottlieb Hans Rudatis. He is commemorated in numerous specific names such as Kirkia wilmsii Engl., Melolobium wilmsii Harms, Argyrolobium wilmsii Harms, Streptocarpus wilmsii Engl., Polygala wilmsii Chodat, Salix wilmsii Seem. and Lejeunea wilmsii Steph.
