Lupinus Species, Texas Bluebonnet

On Jul 25, 2015, limpit from Resaca, GA wrote:

Bluebonnets have been reseeding and growing in my rocky NW Georgia soil for the past seven years. However, if native grasses and weeds are allowed to compete, the bluebonnets they will soon be smothered out. They usually germinate here in late August to mid September and are in full bloom by mid to late April.

On Aug 7, 2013, Phellos from Port Vincent, LA wrote:

This is a beautiful plant that does well in Louisiana if planted in well-drained soil with lime. I have never seen it self sow here.

On Mar 28, 2005, heycharlie from San Jacinto County, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

The Texas Bluebonnet grows wild on my property facing Hwy 59 between Cleveland & Livingston.
I have taken seeds and redistributed them.

On Mar 22, 2005, wshall from El Paso, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

I remember seeing these near fort hood when my father was stationed there when I was in elementary school. They would flood the roadsides between where we lived (Copperas Cove) and Fort Hood every spring with blooms.

On Jul 6, 2004, windyl62 from St. Robert, MO (Zone 6a) wrote:

I started mine from seed and have had excellent results. I am a native of Texas, but now reside in central Missouri. I missed the bluebonnets of my childhood. I purchased seeds at my local store. I didn't follow the directions exactly on the packet, but I still received great results! Now I have a piece of my childhood growing in my Missouri home!

On Apr 30, 2004, Paulwhwest from Irving (Dallas area), TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

This beautiful flower comes up in early spring, blooms, seeds, and dies back to the ground. In this area at least, it self sows so consistently that it has the effect of being a perennial.

On Jan 23, 2004, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

San Antonio, Tx.
The seeds can take up to 2 or 3 years to germinate and must be planted in September or October. I have done better with transplants. I used to kill the poor things planting them in organically rich soil, fertilizing them and providing too much water. None came up from self-seeding in my flowerbeds, but several were growing in the cracks of the street asphalt. They will grow in gravelly and/or rocky soil and do just fine. I have found that the maroon ones have fewer blooms, do not grow as tall nor wide and do not show up in the landscape as much as the blue ones. Each year I tell myself I am not going to plant the maroons and each year I do hoping that they will perform better.

Update - 4/15/07:
For the first time in my life (60 years), I have s... read moreeen pink bluebonnets growing in a native environment. I found 2 plants today in a field in Northwest San Antonio. These are very rarely found occurring naturally. According to Texas A&M University, "In the wild it occurs only once in every ten million bluebonnets. And the chance of finding a pink bluebonnet, well it’s one in a hundred million." I hit the jackpot finding 2 plants. :o) There is an 'Abbott Pink' cultivar that has been developed through selective breeding.

I now no longer have to plant transplants of the blue blooming type. The plants come up from seeds each year (even between the cracks in my sidewalk). I still have been disappointed with the cultivars and no longer plant them.

On Oct 22, 2002, Wingnut from Spicewood, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

Apparently our Central Texas climate is perfect for these to thrive, or is it the alkalinity of our soil? Fields so thick with blue blooms, atop plants that reach up to 18 inches, that they look like a blue quilt spotted with white are a common sight in this area ~ all without any intervention from man. Gorgeous!

In atleast half of the large stands, a plant or three can be found with white or pink blooms (dark pinky-maroon, light pink and all shades in between can be found). The "Maroon" variety was isolated from seeds found growing in San Antonio, I believe along the banks of the river near the Alamo. The legend of the "Red Blubonnet" is that they were stained red from the blood of the defenders that lost their lives there. White has also been isolated for purity and... read more is available commercially. When growing these colors care must be taken to avoid cross pollination with blue ones growing within a mile (I believe) or eventually your stand will revert to the regular blue.

Plants sprout here in fall and go through our minimum 15 degree F winters as small, prostrate plants. It seems they need the long cold period and good rain to do well ~ when we have relatively warm and dry winters, the Blubonnets don't put on as good of a show. In early spring these perk up and take off, blooming their heads off around the beginning of April. By the end of May, when temps start climbing to 90F, they're all petered out ~ they do NOT like heat at all.

To successfully grow these in a colder climb, I would suggest winter sowing in an unheated, bright greenhouse or cold frame.

On May 18, 2002, clive61 wrote:

For southern and arid climes this plant is perfect for early spring color. Does not do well in humid regions. Left undisturbed these plants will reseed and expand.