Texas State Flower: Blue Bonnets

State Flowers 4 Minutes

The Texas Bluebonnet, also known as Lupinus texensis, is a species of lupine that is the state flower of Texas. It is a member of the pea family and is known for its distinctive blue-purple color. The Texas Bluebonnet is an annual plant that typically grows to be between 12 and 24 inches tall. It has a stem covered in small hairs and leaves that are divided into three to seven leaflets.

The flowers of the Texas Bluebonnet are what make it such a beloved plant. They are shaped like a pea flower, with a distinctive banner petal that is white with a dark spot. The other petals are a rich blue-purple color that is truly stunning. The flowers bloom in the spring, typically from March to May, and can be seen across the state of Texas.

The Texas Bluebonnet is a hardy plant that can survive in a range of soil types, but it prefers well-drained soil. It is also drought-tolerant, which makes it a popular choice for landscaping in Texas. The plant is relatively easy to grow from seed, and it can be sown in the fall or early spring for best results.

Overall, the Texas Bluebonnet is a beautiful and iconic plant that is a source of pride for Texans. Its striking color and hardy nature make it a popular choice for landscaping, and it is a symbol of the state’s natural beauty.

How to grow Texas Bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis)

If you’re looking for a stunning addition to your garden or landscape, the Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) is an excellent choice. Texas Bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas, and it’s easy to see why. With its iconic blue-purple petals and white tips, the Texas Bluebonnet is a sight to behold.

Here are some tips on how to grow Texas Bluebonnet:

Choose the right location: Texas Bluebonnets thrive in full sun, so look for a spot in your garden that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Also, make sure the soil is well-draining and not too rich in nutrients.

Plant at the right time: Texas Bluebonnets are annuals, meaning they grow for one year and then die. The best time to plant them is in the fall, around September or October. This gives the seeds time to establish before winter.

Prepare the soil: Before planting, loosen the soil to a depth of six inches and mix in a small amount of compost or other organic matter. This will help improve soil drainage and provide some nutrients for the plants.

Plant the seeds: Scatter the seeds over the prepared soil and lightly rake them in. You can also plant them in rows if you prefer. Make sure the seeds are not planted too deeply; they should be just below the soil surface.

Water regularly: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, especially during the first few weeks after planting. After the plants are established, they are drought-tolerant and don’t need much water.

Enjoy the blooms: Texas Bluebonnets typically bloom in the spring, from March to May. They will grow to be about one to two feet tall and will produce beautiful blue-purple flowers.

By following these tips, you can enjoy the beauty of Texas Bluebonnets in your own garden. Happy planting!

Fun facts about Texas Bluebonnets!

This beautiful flower is not only the state flower of Texas but also a symbol of the state’s pride and heritage. Here are some of the most interesting facts about the Texas Bluebonnet:

The Texas Bluebonnet is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae). It is an annual plant that can grow up to 1-2 feet tall. The plant produces beautiful blue flowers that have a distinct shape that resembles that of a bonnet.

The Texas Bluebonnet is an important part of Texas culture. It was adopted as the state flower of Texas in 1901. The flower is also the subject of many songs, poems, and paintings that celebrate the state’s natural beauty.

The Texas Bluebonnet is not just blue. Although the blue variety is the most common, Texas Bluebonnets can also be found in shades of pink, white, and lavender.

The Texas Bluebonnet is a tough plant that can survive in adverse conditions. It is drought-tolerant and can grow in poor soil. This makes it a popular choice for gardeners who want to add a touch of Texas to their gardens.

The Texas Bluebonnet is more than just a pretty flower. It is also used as a cover crop to improve soil quality. The plant’s roots fix nitrogen in the soil, which helps to enrich it for other plants to grow.

The Texas Bluebonnet has a fascinating history. Legend has it that the flower was named after a group of pioneer women who wore blue bonnets during the Texas Revolution. The blue bonnets were a symbol of their bravery and determination.

In conclusion, the Texas Bluebonnet is more than just a beautiful flower. It is a symbol of Texas pride and heritage, a tough and versatile plant, and a fascinating part of Texas history. It is no wonder that this stunning wildflower is beloved by Texans and admired by people from all over the world.

SOURCE: THEGARDENMAGAZINE.COM

Unknown's avatar

Published by pat frederick

Published

50 thoughts on “Texas State Flower: Blue Bonnets”

    1. Morning, Pat! The sky here looks clear as far as I can tell but it’s still kind of dark; breezy and 64 at the moment. Still no sign of Wheezer. Jerry has his phone set not to answer now…..not sure if I’ll be able to get him to take the mower to Creighton or not but I called Gage (just in case) and arranged for him to come up on Saturday w/his set of ramps. He can help me get it on the back of my truck. He apologized for not showing up last week-end to take a truck load of junk to the transfer station. I found out they are staffed every day of the week so I will have him help me load some heavy stuff while he’s here and take it to the transfer station next week.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning Filly!
        wow 64?
        erbody’s been up on the deck looking for seeds this morning…lol the bluejays are on the railings looking for peanuts. hubby said it’s gonna hit near 60’s again either tomorrow or the next day, so not starting feeding this early!
        glad your grandson apologized! it sounds like you got a good plan in mind for getting rid of your stuff!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I brought the seed block inside a week ago since nothing was eating from it, not even the Jays! Hadn’t seen a WP in days! The seed feeder is inside because of the wind and rain but it’s not getting hardly any traffic, either, when it is out!

          Liked by 1 person

  5. “Exclusive: Anti-Vance Pentagon Official Pushes For DEI ‘Acolyte’ To Assume Top Army Post — ‘People at the White House are pissed. People throughout the Department [of War] are pissed,’ a senior Army official told The Federalist.”

    The Federalist, By: Shawn Fleetwood, October 16, 2025

    Chris LaNeve giving a speech.

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “A high-ranking Department of War official who reportedly disdains Vice President J.D. Vance is seeking to elevate a “true acolyte” of DEI ideology to a top position within the U.S. Army, Trump White House and Pentagon sources told The Federalist. “People at the White House are pissed. People throughout the Department [of War] are pissed,” a senior Army official told The Federalist.

    According to these sources, the DOW has submitted paperwork to the White House to replace Gen. James Mingus with Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve as vice chief of staff of the Army. LaNeve, one source noted, is not viewed favorably throughout the force and is a “true acolyte” of the destructive DEI ideology that wreaked havoc on the military under the Biden administration.

    “The general view of LaNeve is that he is basically being vindictive against the Army for some perceived slights that are very petty in nature,” said the senior Army official. While serving as commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division in June 2023, LaNeve notably authored a memo commemorating “pride month” and the “achievements and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community, to include service in defense of our nation.”

    “It is a time to remember our progress, and it’s also time for the Nation to acknowledge the challenges that remain and to reaffirm our commitment to equality for all,” LaNeve wrote.

    The memo included references to the Stonewall riots and Supreme Court decisions that “struck down regressive laws, affirmed the right to marriage equality, and secured workplace protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in every State and Territory.” It also incorporated mentions of pro-LGBT legislation and then-President Barack Obama’s signing of a bill repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

    “From the founding fathers of our nation through the Global War on Terrorism, LGBTQ+ service members have fought with pride to defend our rights and freedoms,” LaNeve wrote. “As the Division commemorates Pride Month, we reaffirm our commitment to care for each other and cultivate an environment where all Paratroopers can achieve their highest potential. We appreciate the contributions of the LGBTQ+ Paratroopers and understand that inequity and discrimination undermine diversity’s strategic advantage and our core mission.”

    LaNeve’s infatuation with DEI ideology stands in stark contrast to the “absolute killer” nature of Mingus, according to the aforementioned Army official, who described the general as a “strategic thinker” and “critical” to the “transformational efforts” the Army is trying to implement. “He is somebody that we absolutely need in Army leadership,” the official added.

    When pressed on why Mingus is being forced out of the position, the senior Army official replied, “Ricky wants him out.” “Ricky” is in reference to retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. Ricky Buria, who currently serves as acting chief of staff to War Secretary Pete Hegseth. Sources told The Federalist that it is Buria who is driving the efforts to replace Mingus with LaNeve.

    Initially starting out as a junior military assistant to Hegseth, Buria has become an increasingly polarizing figure within the Trump administration as his role within the Pentagon has grown. Back in May, the New York Post reported comments from numerous administration officials that Buria — a “rare Biden administration holdover” — is an “internal critic of Vice President JD Vance’s” foreign policy views, purportedly calling them “‘wackamamie crazy’ and ‘isolationist.’” He has “also slammed President Trump’s use of the military for immigration enforcement as ‘dumb,’” according to the outlet.

    “Ricky Buria is like an annoying skin rash that won’t go away. Nobody knows why he still has a job, especially when Trump has given direct orders for him to be reassigned,” a Trump White House official told The Federalist.

    The Post and other publications have reported that the White House has rejected the Pentagon’s efforts to formally appoint Buria as Hegseth’s chief of staff due to concerns about him being at odds with the president and vice president’s agenda.

    “The Deep State is alive and thriving and it’s apparent within the walls of the Pentagon,” the White House official said. “The War Department would be better served with someone who actually believes in the Trump Doctrine, not someone who is undermining his agenda from within. [Buria] is effectively the Shadow Secretary of War who runs the entire department, which is a terrible thing for this country.”

    The Pentagon did not respond to The Federalist’s immediate request for comment.”

    Liked by 1 person

  9. If the government is “shut down,” why have they not all gone home??? Their salaries should be put on hiatus, too!!!

    Just The News: “Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to bring an appropriations bill to the chamber floor on Thursday that would fund the Pentagon for a year, despite the ongoing government shutdown.

    Senate Democrats have not committed to supporting the defense bill and have been nearly united in their opposition to a continuing resolution that would reopen the federal government. Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada have sided with Republicans on the resolution.

    The defense bill already cleared the appropriations’ committee earlier this year in a 26-3 vote and would restore military pay for service members amid the shutdown. “It seems like it’s a hard vote,” Thune told The Hill. “Because they all say they want a normal appropriations process, and we’re trying to give them one. I get it, it’s in the middle of a shutdown, which is a complicating dynamic here.

    “We need to get the appropriations process going either way,” he continued. “If we’re sitting around here voting every day and they keep voting to keep the government shut down, we need to be trying to move the needle on some of the other stuff that we need to get done.”

    Senate Democrats told the outlet that their support for the Pentagon bill would depend on what measures Republicans attempt to attach to it. 

    The Senate is also expected to vote Thursday for the 10th time on whether to advance the House-passed continuing resolution, which would keep the government funded through Nov. 21. The vote is expected to take place at 11 a.m. Eastern.”

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Just The News: “President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that he would prevent blue cities from hosting the games of the FIFA World Cup if he felt they did not address safety concerns.

    “If I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I’d call the head of FIFA, and I’d say, ‘lets move it.’ And he would do that,” Trump said during a press conference.

    The World Cup tournament is set to take place in myriad American cities in 2026. Trump also suggested he could relocate the planned Los Angeles Olympic Games. 

    Trump made the remarks amid an ongoing row between the administration and the leadership of major American cities, largely over their sanctuary policies and unwillingness to cooperate with federal law enforcement.”

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Fox weather is predicting days and days of wind and rain by early next week for the NE…..maybe you’ll get the rain you need!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. “Bright Brief – Multipolar Margin Call: Playbook Known … and Reversed”

    Burning Bright, Oct 16, 2025

    This feature is a follow-up to my recent long form on Donald Trump’s secret weapon against the Globalist Deep State. Read ‘The Wolf of Main Street’ for additional context.

    “In the shadow of a trade war that’s less a clash of titans and more a choreographed severance—where tariffs serve as narrative artillery, port fees as flanking maneuvers and export bans as feints in a grander game—Scott Bessent, the Wolf of Main Street himself steps forward with a growl that echoes through the corridors of global finance.

    Too dramatic, you say? Well, patriots are leaning into the drama. Why should we let them have all the fun?

    As Treasury Secretary, Bessent is already drawing lines in the sand over China’s rare earth provocations, declaring in no uncertain terms that America and her allies “will neither be commanded nor controlled” by Beijing’s supply chain strangleholds.

    Wednesday morning, amid IMF and World Bank confabs, Bessent ripped into Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang as “unhinged,” unveiling the backstory of Beijing’s Oct. 9 surprise rule changes—export curbs on the sort of rare earths we’re all going to pretend were a part of common parlance all along …. gallium, germanium and antimony, to name a few—substances whose withholding apparently threaten to choke the electric industry, semiconductors and solar panels worldwide.

    Bessent slammed China’s moves as “economic coercion” and “unreliable,” while stressing that Trump won’t blink at stock market jitters or shutdown pains, even if said pains apparently cost the economy $15 billion a day.

    Whose economy, exactly? Best not to ask.

    But more to the point I’ve been making in various contexts over the course of years when I dip my toes into an economic world I never used to have any interest in, and from where I’m sitting, this isn’t bluster …. rather, it’s not bluster ALONE; it’s the opening salvo in what Bessent frames as ‘China vs. the World,’ a standoff where rare earth minerals become the latest leverage point in a decoupling that’s been building since the Scamdemic shattered the illusions of globalist interdependence.

    But as I’ve long argued, from the depths of “Doomed Dynasty” to the heights of “The Golden Switch,” this isn’t mere rivalry; it’s mutual acceleration toward multipolarity disguised as adversity to rally the masses and purge the parasites, with fresh flares like U.S. port fees on Chinese ships and Trump’s soybean retribution threats—along with many more to come, I’d expect—only amplifying the drama, and calling attention to the theater itself……”

    https://burningbright.substack.com/p/bright-brief-multipolar-margin-call

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Liked by 1 person

  25. Just The News: “Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblowers Joseph Ziegler and Gary Shapley on Thursday announced they had reached an undisclosed settlement with the Justice Department (DOJ) over its allegedly illegal retaliation against them.

    Lawyers for the whistleblowers claimed in August that their clients were still facing retaliation from the Justice Department even six months into the new administration. Ziegler and Shapley are best known for their investigation into Hunter Biden’s taxes.

    The settlement announcement comes the same day that a judge dismissed Ziegler’s and Shapley’s defamation lawsuit against Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, who had accused them of committing crimes by sharing information that was allegedly not covered by whistleblower protections.

    The duo claimed that the former first son was given special treatment under the Biden administration because he was the then-president’s son.

    “We have been in the public eye because we did our duties as loyal public servants,” the men said. “We legally blew the whistle when Hunter Biden almost escaped prosecution for his crimes because he was the President’s son. We had to file a lawsuit against Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, because he falsely accused us of committing serious felonies in retaliation.  

    “Since then, Biden pled guilty to his crimes and has been pardoned. He also dropped his lawsuit against the IRS targeting us for our protected disclosures,” the pair continued. “We have recently concluded settlement agreements of our claims that the DOJ and IRS illegally retaliated against us for blowing the whistle on the improper politicization of that case. 

    “In addition to substantial compensation for the harm we suffered, the DOJ has agreed to use this example to train all federal prosecutors for years to come, so other brave civil servants are not victimized the way we were,” they added.

    Shapley and Ziegler said they are considering appealing the dismissal of their lawsuit against Lowell.”

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Just The News: “A federal grand jury on Wednesday night indicted two people allegedly tied to Antifa on terrorism charges for an attack in July on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Texas.

    The two individuals, identified as Cameron Arnold and Zachary Evetts, were charged with providing material support for terrorism, attempting to murder federal and assisting officers and discharging firearms during attempted murders. Antifa indictment

    “For the first time ever, the FBI has arrested anarchist violent extremists and charged these Antifa-aligned individuals with material support to terrorism,” FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News. “This was a planned and coordinated terrorist attack on the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, where armed extremists tried to murder U.S. officers on July 4th.”

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.