Texas Bluebonnet

Texas Bluebonnet Facts

• Texas Bluebonnet names a species of a beautiful and rather hardy winter annual wildflower. Yet, its endemic range includes a narrow section of North America.
• Isolated mutations of this flower have also now been discovered in widely scattered areas. The colors of these isolated mutations include pink, maroon, and white.
• The state of Texas, for which the lovely plant is named, officially recognizes both the original species and all mutations as the state flower.

Texas Bluebonnet Physical Characteristics

The stunning Texas Bluebonnet remains a biennial species. The small seeds also grow covered in an extremely hard layer.

They can require many months, or even years for the weather to erode the outer layer, and begin germination. Once germinated, the seedling appears in the Fall.

The species grows slowly during the winter and does not attain full growth in Spring. The flower typically reaches a maximum height of around 24 in (60 cm).

They primarily display dark blue in color, although variations, while rare, do occur. These most commonly appear as white in color. The species appears to be especially popular with bumblebees.

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Angiosperms

Class: Eudicots

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Genus: Lupinus

Species: L. texensis

Texas Bluebonnet Habitat, Distribution, and Ecology

The beautiful Texas Bluebonnet remains primarily endemic to a narrow range, primarily within the state of Texas, in the United States. It also occurs in smaller numbers in Florida, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.

The beautiful flower also commonly grows in uncultivated areas, including prairies, and along roadsides. The species most typically grows in areas of direct sunlight.

It prefers loose, often rocky soil. This delicate wildflower also lists as toxic, however. However, it does not generally pose a threat to humans unless ingested.

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