The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England and the tulip to Holland.
-Jack Maguire
The Bluebonnet is the official flower of Texas – understandably so! Each Spring the state is blanketed with these stunning flowers bearing cobalt blue petals in the shape of a woman’s sunbonnet. For many Texans, the sprouting of Bluebonnets serves as the conclusive announcement that Spring has arrived.
There are actually 5 species of bluebonnet native to Texas, and all hold the title of state flower. However, the species most commonly found and referenced as the “Texas Bluebonnet” is the Lupinus texensis – the species with the widest, brightest blooms.
Bluebonnets have a fairly short bloom period, generally starting in late March and ending in April. During these months you can see families stopped on roadsides next to Bluebonnet fields getting yearly photos amongst the blooms. What you won’t see is people actually picking Bluebonnets, as children are taught (incorrectly) that this is illegal. Actually, it’s just frowned upon – they should be cared for so they can be visually enjoyed by Texas residents and those just driving through. (ResinBlume respects this by only using Bluebonnets found in isolated fields.)
Legends of the Bluebonnet
There are many legends associated with the Texas Bluebonnet, but two of them stand out:
- The Bluebonnet was first seen after a young Native American girl sought to end a devastating period of extreme weather causing disease and starvation in her tribe. She overheard instructions given from the Great Spirit to the tribe elders to burn their most prized possession to appease the gods and end the turbulent weather. That night, the girl sneaked out, walked to a hill and burned her own most prized possession: a doll with blue feathers on its clothing. She then scattered the ashes to the 4 directions: North, South, East and West. The next morning, the tribal lands were carpeted with lush blue and green growth – the growth of Bluebonnets – foretelling a good season of prosperity.
- Bluebonnets were given to the Native Americans by a Spanish nun named María de Jesús de Agreda, known to the locals as “Lady in the Blue” – a reference to the blue cloak she wore over her habit. In a religious miracle of bi-location, the Lady in the Blue was able to commune with Native American tribes to teach them about Christianity in both Texas and New Mexico, all while never leaving her convent in Spain. On the morning following María’s last visit, the tribe woke to find fields covered in flowers colored the deep blue of the nun’s cloak – Bluebonnets!
Interesting Facts about Bluebonnets
- Of the five (5) species of Bluebonnet holding the title of “Official State Flower of Texas”, only 2 species grow wild ONLY in Texas: Lupinus Texensic and Lupinus Subcarnosis.
- Texas embraces the lure of widespread Bluebonnet blooms. The state plants Bluebonnets along Texas State Highways to supplement the wild growth and cover the roadsides with beautiful blue flowers. A drive through Texas during blooming season is full of color!
- Because Bluebonnets along roadsides attracted so many families seeking to take photos, the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center opened a field for people to take photos without the risk of traffic accidents.
- Bluebonnets thrive in degraded soils in full sun – Texas roadsides are perfect! The lifecycle of the Bluebonnet includes a seeding period during which fields of Bluebonnets should not be mown – Texas DoT works around this schedule to make sure every year has a prolific blooming season.
- Texas A&M University bred maroon Bluebonnets to honor the school color.
- The Bluebonnet is technically a legume.
- Bluebonnets are toxic to humans and animals.
- The Bluebonnet competed with the Prickly Pear flower for the title of State Flower. It was a group of women – members of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America – who lobbied for selection of the Bluebonnet, bringing a painting of a Bluebonnet field to the discussion, as well as jars of Bluebonnets for each representative.
- Before becoming the state flower, Bluebonnets were already widely adored. Before Texas was even a state, Spanish priests would collect the seeds of Bluebonnets and plant them all around their missions.
