The decision by a cemetery in Decatur to mow bluebonnets is causing a stir. Want more Hill Country stories? Each of the individual bluebonnet flowers on the spike has a top and bottom petal. Bluebonnets are easy to grow from seed, but to do this, you'll have to be patient. The length of the flowering period is about a month. You can also buy pre-scarified seeds like these bluebonnet seeds from Wildseed Farms. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Centers bluebonnet areas, https://leahruns100.com/2017/01/30/texas-bluebonnets-already-signal-spring/. For state highways to put on their renowned spectacular show of color each spring, the Texas Department of Transportation has to know when and when not to mow. Still, if youre out in a field making one of those legendary bluebonnet photos, its not the end of the world if your toddler accidentally plucks one. I have learned that bluebonnets are smart. The flower of the Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) is an elongated cluster of small blueish purple flowers. Place one scarified seed in each hole. You dont even need to add a layer of mulch; it could interfere with the plants ability to self-seed. Top 11 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of April 14, 2023 include Keep Austin Beautiful Day,Squirrel Fest,and more! The end of the bluebonnet spike is white. *Bluebonnets grow best in well-draining soil. Texas bluebonnets are a host plant for the Hairstreak butterfly and Elfin butterfly. In fields and other large areas, the plants can be mowed off to aid in dispersal of seeds and to control competition from weeds and grasses. When sowing seed in turf areas, make sure to scalp the grass as low as possible with a mower and rake up any thatch which may prevent the seed from contacting the soil. This protects the seed from being eaten by birds or "baked" by the sun. If you're able to find springtime seedlings at a nursery, transport them carefully. You can add bluebonnets to the garden or a container as transplants or as seeds. Likes well drained soil. Welcome to Native Backyards! Park off the roadway, parallel to the road in the direction of traffic. Ermias Kebreab, left, and Matthias Hess, right, with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, will work with UC collaborators to cut methane emissions from cow guts using the genome-editing tool CRISPR. My grandma was an avid gardener, but could never get bluebonnets to grow. Get our free newsletter. But in cooler zones, sow seeds in spring after the last frost date has been passed. Look closely and you can see the empty pod. (yes, its November) It will be interesting to see how the spring crop turns out. Once the seedlings are ready for transplant. Im sure your home will be the most popular one in town for bees and butterflies in no time! The bluebonnet growth cycle is complete once seeds mature and foliage dies away. In Texas, bluebonnets are planted in the late fall, the plant grows deep roots and overwinter and starts to bloom in spring. However, it is a myth! Not sure who owns it, but there are lots of people parked on the shoulder of the road in the evenings so they can gain access (there are always 4 or 5 at 5pm, so I'm sure that number grows mid-evening). Thank you for the info. However, in certain areas it may be illegal or dangerous. Well respond if you comment. Copyright 2023 101 Highland Lakes They bloom only a few weeks and then are replaced with other less famous but no less stellar blooms (like that pretty firewheel in our logo). Thanks Jeanette. Grow bluebonnets from cuttings. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Fun fact you may also occasionally see a white or pink bluebonnet among the blue flowers due to a gene recession. While blue is the most common color, there are albino white and red strains as well as a rare pink strain named "Abbott." It shouldnt be long before you come to understand why even lifelong Texans remain fascinated by bluebonnets. After mowing rake any loose grass and thatch. While enjoying the gorgeous wildflowers along our states roadways, consider following these tips from the Texas Department of Public Safetyfor your safety, and the safety of others. But is there any truth to it? I would hate to loose it, but if a storm came I may be sleeping with it. We went through a record freeze in February (lovingly called Snowmaggedon). Any time I add a new plant to my yard, I want to make sure it is host plant to butterflies and moths. Each of these individual flowers are in the shape of a bonnet reminiscent of those worn by pioneer women. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool , Texas Department of Transportation: Planting Bluebonnets, Texas A&M University: Texas Bluebonnets-Texas Pride, Southwest Fertilizer: Bluebonnets Gone Wild. These bacterium, known as rhizobium, form nodules on the roots of the bluebonnet plant and are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen which is the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to a form usable by plants. But it is frowned upon. Would you believe I spotted a bluebonnet poking up in my yard this weekend?!? As long as the seeds drop in fast-draining soil and the sun shines brightly, the flowers should supply many blooming encore performances, Better Homes & Gardens says. It still depends on rainfall, he said. Get outside and enjoy the many natural wonders our state has to offer. Scarification-the botanical term for breaking open tough seed pods-speeds up the process. I love that your home came with its own ample supply of bluebonnets! Don't mow or cut back plant until seed pods turn brown (6-8 weeks after blooming). There, the Hill Country wildflowers dominate the rocky landscape in central and south Texas in fields and along state highways. Share your photo in a comment and tell me where you found your flowers. Don't fertilize bluebonnets. Native Plants by State Find Natives Near You. Who knew? So Im learning. Park on the same side of the roadway that the flowers are on. Sown in late summer or planted as transplants in fall, bluebonnets are among the first flowers to bloom in late winter or early spring. Texas has 5 state flowers, all bluebonnet,s or all species of lupinus, more precisely. Probably the primary determinant of success for growing bluebonnets in your yard is the amount of sun theyll receive. It should be noted that the above dates are just averages.. FYI: I updated this article on my blog (new photos and more information). Theres a rumor going around Texas that its illegal to pick bluebonnets, the state flower. Truly stunning close up. In fact, wildflowers often establish themselves more quickly and efficiently on a patch of disturbed land than in grasses. Falling is another issue. Its also important to be aware that there are laws against damaging or destroying rights-of-way and government property. While wildflowers such as the bluebonnet are beautiful in bloom, once their color fades and the plants die back, they arent as attractive. Try wildseedfarms.com. For this, rub the seeds against sandpaper or nick through the seed coat with a sharp knife. What Do the Seeds of Moonflowers Look Like? Each spring Texas Bluebonnets prove why theyre the official flower of the Lone Star State. Our lycoris are beautiful this year. Whats not to love about these beauties, especially when they blanket Hill Country fields and roadsides with their bright, perky blue-and-white charm?