Texas state flower. Steeped in folklore and legend as rich as the Lone Star State. Texas Bluebonnets may take time to establish and grow, but with the right conditions and patience, they are undoubtedly worth it! Blue and white flowers are densely arranged on a spike with a characteristic ice white terminal tip. Although they bloom in the early spring, seeds need to be planted in the fall (Sept 1-Nov 15) of the previous year to allow time for them to establish for spring flowers. Prefer sandy, loamy and well-draining soils; cannot tolerate poorly drained, clay based soils. Require full sun.
Pollination occurs by insect, bird, wind, humans, or other natural mechanisms. Because there are no restrictions on the flow of pollen between individuals, open-pollinated plants are more genetically diverse. However, as long as pollen is not shared between different varieties within the same species, then the seed produced will remain true-to-type year after year.
Annual plants are plants with a life cycle that lasts only one year. They grow from seed, bloom, produce seeds, and die in one growing season. They then need to be replanted each spring.