Well, first we have to have the famous Texas Bluebonnet, Lupinus texensis. If anyone else has the other native bluebonnets, post a pic.

A non gardener I know from Texas called this a weed. I was horrified. If Ladybird could hear that she would cringe.....

If Ladybird could hear it, it would be a miracle!

It made me think, is that what the general public thinks when they see swaths of flowers?

sandnsea2 said:It made me think, is that what the general public thinks when they see swaths of flowers?

Yes and No. Some folks, even gardeners, in my area think that anything that is prolific (even invasive, like Tallow Tree, Japanese Honeysuckle or Ligustrum) must be native because it's everywhere

Public education, invasive eradication needed.

Agree!

Very similar lupines grow wild here, I think they are pretty.

Some people in Texas have a yearly thing they do. They wait until bluebonnets are blooming a lot somewhere, then they go there to take photos, especially when they have kids. The annual bluebonnet photo op. You see people are asking others or going online asking where the best local bluebonnet sites are. Never mind that there are lots of other wildflowers in Texas, spring, summer and fall. And yes, people would be shocked at how many of the plants in the wild or along roads are not native. Grasses, trees, wildflowers, every category of plant. Few would know the difference. I'm into native plants and many times even I am wondering about a plant...native or nonnative? Did it grow in Texas several hundred years ago or was in introduced recently? If it's not native, is it at least not invasive in the extreme? Hopefully, not like kudzu, which the government thought would be a good thing to bring in, but ended up being very harmful. I'm not against having nonnative plants...I have quite a lot, but I seek out natives the most.

krancmm said:

Yes and No. Some folks, even gardeners, in my area think that anything that is prolific (even invasive, like Tallow Tree, Japanese Honeysuckle or Ligustrum) must be native because it's everywhere

Public education, invasive eradication needed.

Double-posted.

I bought some Texas "Aggie" Maroon Bluebonnets last Spring. Planted some seeds from it this fall and can't wait to see the maroon color again this Spring.



Kirk

Thanks for posting those Aggie blooms! I have seeds I haven't planted yet! This was a great reminder to get them in the ground quickly before our first freeze.

Beautiful! Hopefully, we'll get rain so that more bluebonnet seedlings will make it to bloom in the spring! I just saw a forecast of 21° for Monday night here! Oh lordy!

First Bluebonnet flower seen this year!

Photos taken yesterday February 20, 2013, Victoria, Tx


But I don't know what species it is Maybe Lupinus subcarnosus?

Well, Lupinus subcarnosus is really what it looks like to me! Pretty! At least we're getting a bit more wildflowers now.
http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/bio4...

Thanks Linda, I will try to do some more pictures.
Also I have some old pictures but they are on an external drive. I will try to submit them, too.

Justin, I notice there's no pictures of that species in the ATP database. It you could submit yours, that would be helpful!

Great pictures. Mine have only foliage so far.

Loop 360's median, in front of our subdivision, has them popping out all over. The hill at the entry here is starting to "blue up!"

LindaTX8 said:Justin, I notice there's no pictures of that species in the ATP database. It you could submit yours, that would be helpful!

I did it. I hope will be enough details to confirm the ID.