Bluebonnet season is almost upon us. These beloved Texas flowers usually start to bloom from mid to late March through April — though Mother Nature always keeps us on our toes. Keep an eye out; the first blooms could appear any day now.
Declared Texas' official state flower in 1901, bluebonnets have been a symbol of the state long before they flooded Instagram feeds. In the 1930s, the Texas Highway Department began planting them along roadways, turning springtime into a breathtaking display that still causes drivers to stop for "just one more picture" every year.
But, according to Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Director of Marketing & Communications Scott Simons, there are plenty of misconceptions about the Lone Star State’s flower.
Is It A Weed Or Flower?
Bluebonnets are true Texas natives, flourishing in the wild without human help. While some might see them as weeds when they pop up unexpectedly, what’s a nuisance to one person is a natural masterpiece to another. Is all subjective.
“A “weed” is really nothing more than a plant that is unwanted in the place that it is living (ie: a flowerbed),” Simons tells Local Profile. “Some plants that are grown as ornamental plants on one side of the globe might be invasive and considered a nuisance on the other side of the globe, for example.”
Bamboo is a prime example of this. While it thrives wild in Asia, it's often regarded as an invasive species in the United States. Like the bluebonnet does in Texas, it carries deep cultural and symbolic meaning in China, Japan and throughout Asia.
“Bluebonnets are a native plant that flowers, and they are, funnily enough, lupines,” Simons says. “The majority of lupines actually grow in mountainous areas, but bluebonnets have adapted to grow in gravelly soils without a lot of nutrients.”
Do You Know How Many Types Of Bluebonnets There Are?
Here’s something fun to know for your next party conversation: Texas doesn’t have just one state flower, but six! All belong to the Lupinus genus and are known as bluebonnets. The six varieties are Lupinus havardii (Big Bend bluebonnet), Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine), Lupinus plattensis (Nebraska lupine), Lupinus subcarnosus (sandyland bluebonnet), Lupinus texensis (Texas bluebonnet) and Lupinus concinnus (bajada lupine). So, if bluebonnet trivia ever comes your way, you’re ready to impress!
Actually, Bluebonnets Aren’t A Spring Plant
Bluebonnet seeds take root in the fall, growing steadily through the winter beneath ice or snow. Come spring, they burst into bloom — one final show of brilliance before scattering seeds for the next generation.
“Bluebonnets are actually a fall and winter plant, not a spring plant,” Simons says. “They grow all fall and winter and then bloom in the spring before they die, only to have their seeds sprout again the next fall and do it all over again.”
Where To See Bluebonnets In North Texas
As you drive through Texas, you'll see vibrant wildflowers lining major roadways and highways, but Collin County is also bursting with blooms — without the need to risk your life for that perfect picture.
Visit Local Profile’s guides to bluebonnets in Plano, Frisco, Allen And McKinney.
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