In 1901, the Legislature selected lupinus subcarnosus as the state flower. In 1932, the department hired a fellow named Jac Gubbels as its first landscape architect. These particular plants grow as tall as two feet. It’s also been called buffalo clover, wolf flower and […] However, this wonderful marvel of Nature also goes by the alternate common name of the Texas lupine. MORE: 9 Lovely Plants That Can Stand Up to Drought. The bluebonnet is the official state flower of Texas. Just how well-known are bluebonnets? A few facts about Texas bluebonnets. If you are from Texas, this is one fact that we all learned in elementary school. And yes, they're all bluebonnets! In 1901, the Texas House of Representatives adopted the bluebonnet as the official state flower. Getty Images. The shorter, more common Texas Bluebonnet grows east of a line going from northeast to southwest Texas. Plan a spring trip to North Texas to catch sight of these blue beauties. There's no need to plant the seeds, just spread them out over your garden in fall and they'll be blooming by spring. When maroon-colored bluebonnets started springing up at the University of Texas at Austin's campus, many suspected prankster Aggies were to blame. And bees and butterflies will thank you. Chappell Hill is also known for their wildflowers and proudly hosts the Official State of Texas Bluebonnet Festival each year. Locals say the flowers were originally white, but turned pink when the river was red with blood after the battle of the Alamo. The bluebonnet was also called Azulejo from azul, the Spanish word for blue. Here are some interesting facts about this beautiful state flower: 1. While you may not know the names of all of these colorful spring blooms, any self-respecting Texan can recognize the bluebonnet in the bunch. Texas has a state flower song that's all about bluebonnets. The National Society of Colonial Dames proposed this idea by sending a painting of a bluebonnet in bloom to legislators. They then started maintaining the flowers, which included delaying mowing until early summer. bluebonnet Flowers are densely arranged on a spike with a characteristic ice white terminal tip. 9 Lovely Plants That Can Stand Up to Drought, After the Texas Highway Department was organized in 1917, officials noticed that bluebonnets were the first vegetation to appear at roadside cuts and fills. They don’t even need quality soil, so they’re perfect for problem areas that get lots of sun. According to KERA News, up to 100,000 people visit this town each year to feast their eyes on 40 miles of wildflowers along the roads. ; Texas Bluebonnet is a hardy winter annual native to Texas. Horticulturists have developed colored strains of bluebonnets with the goal of planting the flowers in the shape of the Texas state flag as well. Do You Know How to Hang Christmas Lights? Today, the Texas Department of Transportation buys and sows about 30,000 pounds of wildflower seeds each year, making Texas highways among the most beautiful and scenic in the nation. Texas designated the bluebonnet as the official state flower in 1901. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The Best Indoor Trees for Every Room of Your House, Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Squash, 30 Best Fall Flowers and Plants for Your Yard, Winter Flowers to Get you Through the Doldrums, Your Yard Needs These Perennial Flowers and Plants. And, finally, Lupinus Plattensis can be seen throughout the Panhandle plains from mid to late spring. Bluebonnet flowers were named for the blue color and sunbonnet-shaped petals (though not all bluebonnets are blue). In anticipation of wildflower season in Texas, I thought it might be fun to consider five interesting facts about Texas bluebonnets. Lupinus Subcarnosus grow in Hidalgo, Leon, and LaSalle counties. All State Flowers. [link href="http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/maintenance/wildflower-program.html" target="_blank" link_updater_label="external"]The Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Hill Country Is the Perfect Vacation Spot, 25 Best Thanksgiving Facts to Share at Dinner, 14 Facts Every Daffodil Devotee Should Know, 16 Fun Facts All Strawberry Lovers Should Know. Bluebonnets were named Texas' official state flower in 1901. It was the only species selected as the state flower. ( Log Out /  But many male legislators voted in favor of a different state flower. These nominees paled by comparison to the bluebonnet, nominated by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America. Bluebonnets are often a topic in folklore.