Lupinus Species, Texas Bluebonnet
Lupinus texensis
Family: | Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Lupinus (loo-PIE-nus) (Info) |
Species: | texensis (teck-SEN-sis) (Info) |

Category:
Annuals
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Foliage Color:
Blue-Green
Height:
6-12 in. (15-30 cm)
Spacing:
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
Hardiness:
Not Applicable
Where to Grow:
Danger:
Seed is poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color:
Dark Blue
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Winter/Early Spring
Mid Spring
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
Seed Collecting:
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Gaylesville, Alabama
Vincent, Alabama
Mesa, Arizona
Little Rock, Arkansas
Bradley, Florida
Keystone Heights, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Zephyrhills, Florida
Cordele, Georgia
Resaca, Georgia
Columbus, Indiana
Denham Springs, Louisiana
Derwood, Maryland
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Leakesville, Mississippi
Saint Robert, Missouri
Elba, New York
Thomasville, North Carolina
Enid, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Arlington, Texas(2 reports)
Austin, Texas(4 reports)
Bastrop, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Bellaire, Texas
Boerne, Texas
Brazoria, Texas
Bulverde, Texas
Cedar Park, Texas
Conroe, Texas(2 reports)
Copperas Cove, Texas
Crockett, Texas
Dallas, Texas(3 reports)
Denton, Texas
Desoto, Texas
Edinburg, Texas
Elgin, Texas
Euless, Texas
Flint, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas(3 reports)
Frisco, Texas
Granbury, Texas
Grand Prairie, Texas
Grapevine, Texas
Hondo, Texas
Houston, Texas
Irving, Texas
Jacksonville, Texas
Katy, Texas
Kaufman, Texas
Kemp, Texas
Kerrville, Texas
Lampasas, Texas
Leming, Texas
Liberty Hill, Texas
Lipan, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lufkin, Texas
Malakoff, Texas
Mansfield, Texas
Mc Kinney, Texas
Mcallen, Texas
Mission, Texas
Pasadena, Texas
Portland, Texas
Richmond, Texas
Robert Lee, Texas
Salado, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(5 reports)
Shepherd, Texas
Snook, Texas
Spicewood, Texas
Spring, Texas
Stephenville, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Waxahachie, Texas
Wylie, Texas
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | 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. |
Neutral | On Dec 18, 2014, LazLo from Austin, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: Most folks aren't aware of this bit of TX bluebonnet germination info -- |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On May 9, 2009, hummerlou from TAYLOR, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: My bluebonnets started from a couple of plants our grandsons gave us when we moved into our new home 4 years ago. I usually let them seed out and they just get prettier each year. However, this year I am anxious to mow them down and get my yard prettied up again. Should I mow them or pull them up and put them in my garden? |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Mar 23, 2005, DawnRain from Bartow, FL wrote: In my Florida garden these are a short lived annual. I get them every year from a nursery friend that I trade seeds with. I will be putting my plants in the ground in the next couple of days and they will do beautifully and be in full bloom by mid April. When May gets hot, they will be gone for another year. But for the weeks I have them, I adore them. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Jul 8, 2004, Martha_Johnson from Lampasas, TX wrote: I live an hour north of Austin, TX. The bluebonnets are beautiful here. In my pasture, however, the first year, the flower was tiny, tiny, (as Crimson noted). I blame myself because I planted waaaaay late. This year again I thought, "oh no, I have to plant more, this time following the directions", but, I guess, since I planted late, the flowers came late, plus they are bigger. Since they self sow, I can't wait to see how big and how many I'll have next year. Hang in there Crimson blessings are coming your way. |
Positive | 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! |
Positive | On May 21, 2004, deborahsongs from Fort Worth, TX wrote: I finally got these bluebonnets to grow this year and they are still going. Love how they looked with this firey freesia too! |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Apr 15, 2004, jh_sanders from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: I'm a beginning gardener and was able to grow a very nice patch from seed on the first try. The seeds I purchased were labelled as "scarified for easy germination". I sowed them on top of my mulch and lightly raked them in the fall and kept it damp until they germinated. I was rewarded with my very own bluebonnet patch this spring. |
Positive | On Jan 23, 2004, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: San Antonio, Tx. |
Positive | On Mar 28, 2003, rainertx wrote: The sides highways in the area are blanketed with bluebonnets her in DFW from about the end of March into May. For years my mom tried to grow them in the yard, both from plants and from seed, with no success. Unfortunately, she was meticulous about maintaining an organic program in the yard. This resulted in a very healthy yard, but not bluebonnets! It seems to me that they do best in poor soil and when they are largely ignored when feeding and fertilizing the other plants in the yard! |
Positive | 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! |
Negative | On Jul 17, 2002, Crimson from Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b) wrote: I'm very disappointed, my seed was from a retail pack and the results were 4" light pink (Was supposed to be maroon) and blue tiny plants with flowers so small it would be amazing if they could produce a single seed. |
Positive | 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. |
Neutral | On Aug 8, 2001, killerdaisy from Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: Bloom from summer through fall in cool climates and from spring until weather turns hot in warm climates. Poor to average soil. Leaf blight, leaf spot, crown rot, powdery mildew, and rust may be troublesome. |