Plant seeds now, grow bluebonnets later

It’s not too late to plan for a blue bonnet (lupinus texensis) patch in your yard this spring.

October and November are the best months to plant bluebonnets and other native wildflowers. The wellloved state flower is perfectly adapted to grow in our rocky, alkaline Hill Country soil in full sun.

Bluebonnets are annuals, meaning they grow from seed to flower each year and the start again from seed the next season. Their seeds have a hard outer covering that makes them tricky to germination. This hard outer coat is nature’s way of assuring we have the joy of bluebonnets year after year. If all the seeds germinated and no rains came to grow the mature plant, there would be no seed left for succeeding years. If you want to increase the germination rate you can use a process called scarification. This simply means nicking the seed coat to simulate the natural weathering process.

Freeze seeds overnight then pour boiling water over them and let them soak for several hours.

Texas bluebonnets bloom from the end of March to about mid-May, then a seed pod is formed. This green seed pod eventually turns yellow and finally brown at maturity. The seed pod will pop open releasing seeds to rest on the soil until Fall. The sprouted seedlings have a distinctive appearance, and you can easily learn to recognize them.

You can buy bluebonnet seeds by the pack or the pound depending on the area you wish to sow. Just remember to buy from a Texas supplier, and be sure they are lupinus texensis.