prairie wildflower
Texas bluebonnet
Lupinus texensis
Also known as Bluebonnet, Texas Lupine, Buffalo Clover, Wolf Flower
1 of 3Native to Louisiana and Texas
Louisiana west to west Texas, south to San Luis Potosi in northern Mexico. In Texas, found mainly in the Blackland Prairie and Edward's Plateau. Planted extensively along roadsides in Texas and Oklahoma.
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry Moisture preference
- Zones n/a Cold to heat range
- Bloom Mar–Apr Flowering time
- Height
- Life cycle Annual Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun and lean, dry soil. Its white and blue flowers peak in March.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
When it blooms
The Texas bluebonnet's white and blue flowers bloom March to April, peaking in March. This early-spring display draws butterflies and bees.
Texas bluebonnet blooms white & blueFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Butterflies Fiery Skipper
also Painted Lady, Gray Hairstreak, Variegated Fritillary +5 more
Checkered White, Reakirt's Blue, Great Purple Hairstreak, Dusky-blue Groundstreak, Mitoura gryneus - Bees American Bumble Bee also Western Honey Bee
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Acmon bluecaterpillar host
- Boisduval's bluecaterpillar host
- Melissa bluecaterpillar host
- Silvery bluecaterpillar host
- Checkered whitenectar
- Fiery skippernectar
- Gray hairstreaknectar
- Juniper hairstreaknectar
- Painted ladynectar
- Reakirt's bluenectar
- Variegated fritillarynectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Louisiana and TexasUnited States (2): LA, TX. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Louisiana west to west Texas, south to San Luis Potosi in northern Mexico. In Texas, found mainly in the Blackland Prairie and Edward's Plateau. Planted extensively along roadsides in Texas and Oklahoma.The same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Soil
- Limestone/chalky, Sandy Loam, Limestone-based, Calcareous, Sandy, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, CalicheThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Water use
- LowHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- HighHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Life cycle
- AnnualWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Mar–AprWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- White, BlueThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Apr–MayThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.