Did you know that the state flower of Texas is the bluebonnet?This beautiful Texas state flower can be found all over the state, and it’s a lovely sight to behold. It’s illegal to pick them up in some parts of the state.Each late spring, the magnificent state of Texas honors a variety of wildflower species. None, however, is more revered than the Texas Bluebonnets. With all of the bluebonnet festivals, family photographs, and scenic roadside views, it’s safe to assume that just about every self-respecting Texan understands how to distinguish bluebonnets from other vibrant blooms.Bluebonnet’s HistoryA flower war broke out when the Texas Legislature was deciding on all of the official state mascots in 1901. Three distinct speakers each proposed a different bloom and spoke vehemently in favor of their selection.The Legislature chose Lupinus subcarnosus (a species of bluebonnet) as the Texas state flower in 1901, but voters repeatedly petitioned the Legislature for a change because subcarnosus flowers are smaller and less bright than the species texensis.Finally, in 1971, the Texas Legislature decided that the best way to please everyone was to designate all five bluebonnet species as the Texas state flower, and the rest is history.It’s an annual that starts off as a tiny, gravel-like seed. The seed has a tough seed coat that must be broken down over several months by wind, rain, and weather.Bluebonnets appear as small seedlings with two cotyledons in the fall, followed by a rosette of palmate pairs of leaflets with five to seven leaflets 1.1-3.9 in (3–10 cm) long, green with a faint white edge, and hair.The plants grow best in moist years. Bluebonnet seeds have a hard outer shell to protect them from the elements.Before being kept, seeds can be scarified, which weakens the seed casing and encourages germination. One year after being harvested and treated, the seeds have no loss in germinability if scarified and stored at 72 F (22 C).Facts About Texas BluebonnetJack Maguire, a historian, once wrote that it’s not only the state flower but also a floral trademark that’s almost as well-known as cowboy boots and the Stetson hat to outsiders.The Official Texas Bluebonnet Trail is where you’ll find infinite southern beauty. Up to 100,000 people visit this hamlet each year to see the 40 mi (64.3 km) of wildflowers that line the roads.Every year, the Texas Department of Transportation purchases and sows approximately 30,000 lb (136,078 kg) of wildflowers.Although Texas is not the only site in the United States where bluebonnets can be seen, it is the only place where both the Lupinus texensic and Lupinus subcarnosis species may be found.It’s not a good idea to eat the seeds and leaves of the full Lupinus plant because they’re harmful!Then there’s the Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival, which has been designated as the ‘Official State of Texas Bluebonnet Festival.’ It, too, is enamored with the bluebonnets.The Bluebonnet Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday. On Highway 290, midway between Houston and Austin, sits Chappell Hill, which bills itself as ‘The Heart of Bluebonnet Country.‘Many Texans and visitors from all over the United States flock to Texas in the spring, particularly in the month of early April, to view the bluebonnets in full bloom.It’s a fantastic opportunity to capture these lovely, brilliant blooms and their strong, beautiful blue flower colors on camera. You won’t be able to view them in full bluebonnet bloom until late in the spring.There are, however, a plethora of other lovely and beautiful wildflowers that bloom throughout the spring and summer, many of which produce equally stunning Texas wildflower displays across the state.Isolated mutations in other hues, including all-white blooms, pink, and the maroon ‘Alamo Fire’ variety, have been discovered in the wild. These mutations have since been deliberately developed to produce a variety of commercially available color variants.Ideal Growing Conditions For Bluebonnet FlowersThe only spot where Texas bluebonnets thrive is in direct sunlight. In fact, they require at least 8-10 hours of direct sunlight per day!Plan a visit to the Ennis trails to get the complete bluebonnet experience! Make sure to apply your southern etiquette and refrain from plucking them. For many years to come, we want them to be a part of what makes Texas so lovely!Bluebonnets sprout in the fall, when a drink of water is most beneficial. As a result, fall rainfall is crucial.Winter rains, on the other hand, are beneficial. The snow acts as an insulator for the native plants.Strange Facts About BluebonnetsDid you know that Texas has five native bluebonnet species, each of which is designated as the state flower of the state?All native lupine species found in Texas are designated as the official state flower. Because of this, other species like L. subcarnosus and L. havardii are also referred to as bluebonnets, although there are differences between the species that distinguish them from L. texensis.Bluebonnet refers to both the blue cornflower, also known as bachelor’s button (Centaurea cyanus) and the blue scabious, commonly known as devil’s bit (Succisa pratensis).Keep little children and pets from putting plants in their mouths before heading to the bluebonnet fields.Humans and animals are both harmed by the ingestion of bluebonnets.Leave the flowers in the same condition as you found them. It is not against the law to pick bluebonnets, however, it is against the law to deface or take someone else’s property.Most people know the bluebonnet by its original name nowadays, but it has earned at least five different nicknames throughout history. Due to its position in the Lupinus genus, botanists referred to the flower simply as the Lupine. However, the common populace preferred the names Buffalo Clover and Wolf Flower.The Spanish gave the bluebonnet several names, including El Conejo, which means ‘rabbit,’ referring to the white tip’s resemblance to the tail of a cottontail rabbit, and Azulejo, which can be loosely translated as ‘indigo bunting’ or ‘corn flower’.Although most bluebonnet plants are blue and white, the flowers are also available in pink, purple, and white.Some people associate bluebonnets with bravery and sacrifice.Lupinus texensis is not deemed an invasive species.
Did you know that the state flower of Texas is the bluebonnet?
