Bluebonnets: The Five State Flowers of Texas

Bluebonnet season - one of the most anticipated seasons of the year among locals and tourists alike. People travel from all over the world to see the beautiful fields of blue, snapping photos of all kinds while these beauties envelop the plains of Texas. As historian Jack Maguire so aptly wrote, "It's not only the state flower but also a kind of floral trademark almost as well known to outsiders as cowboy boots and the Stetson hat." Conroe is one of the first cities in East Texas to see the bluebonnets and a perfect place to visit to begin the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail tour. This year has proven to be one of the most spectacular bluebonnet seasons yet!

 We all love the bluebonnets but did you know that Texas actually has FIVE state flowers? (Parsons, George & Grant, 2012.) All five fall under the common flower name of bluebonnet, yet they are five different species.

The five state flowers of Texas are:

Lupinus subcarnosus, the original champion and still co-holder of the title, grows naturally in deep sandy loams from Leon County southwest to LaSalle County and down to the northern part of Hidalgo County in the Valley. It is often referred to as the sandy land bluebonnet. The plant's leaflets are blunt, sometimes notched with silky undersides. This species, which reaches peak bloom in late March, is not easy to maintain in clay soils.

Lupinus texensis, the favorite of tourists and artists, provides the blue spring carpet of Central Texas. It is widely known as THE Texas bluebonnet. It has pointed leaflets, the flowering stalk is tipped with white (like a bunny's tail) and hits its peak bloom in late March and early April. It is the easiest of all the species to grow.

Lupinus Havardii, also known as the Big Bend or Chisos Bluebonnet, is the most majestic of the Texas bluebonnet tribe with flowering spikes up to three feet. It is found on the flats of the Big Bend country in early spring, usually has seven leaflets and is difficult to cultivate outside its natural habitat.

Lupinus concinnus is an inconspicuous little lupine, from 2 to 7 inches, with flowers which combine elements of white, rosy purple and lavender. Commonly known as the annual lupine, it is found sparingly in the Trans-Pecos region, blooming in early spring.

Lupinus plattensis sneaks down from the north into the Texas Panhandle's sandy dunes. It is the only perennial species in the state and grows to about two feet tall. It normally blooms in mid to late spring and is also known as the dune bluebonnet, the plains bluebonnet and the Nebraska Lupine.

That adds a new twist to one of the most popular attractions in the state of Texas! Now that you know there are five different flowers, pack your bags and head to Conroe where you will most likely find Lupinus texensis in abundance and then head over to some of the other parts of the state to see if you can scope out any of these other state flowers of Texas! 

Read more about the history behind the Texas Bluebonnets.

References:
Parsons, Jerry, George, Steve & Grant, Greg. (2012) Texas Bluebonnets -- Texas Pride. Aggie Horticulture. Agrilife Extension, Texas Cooperative Extension. Texas A&M University. http://aggie-%20horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/flowers/bluebonnet/bluebonnetstory.html.