AUSTIN, Texas — Every spring, Texas becomes an ocean of blue, as bluebonnets bloom across state highways, in prairies and through open fields. While many people like to stop and take photos of these flowers, the plants also play a deeper role representing Texas’ unique culture, history and climate.
For over 100 years, the bluebonnet has signified Texas’ heritage as its state flower. The plant was once part of stories told by Indigenous tribes and Spanish settlers. Later on, it was recognized by former first lady Lady Bird Johnson in her efforts to promote environmentalism and wildflower growth.
Bluebonnets can also survive through Texas’ freezes and droughts, allowing them to persist despite climate change.
The fight to make the bluebonnet Texas’ state Flower
For nearly 125 years, the bluebonnet has been recognized as the state Flower of Texas, but how did this happen?
At first, several options were considered, including the pear cactus and the cotton plant. But an all-women’s group called the National Society of Colonial Dames of America helped influence the final decision by advocating for the bluebonnet.
The organization created floral arrangements and placed them on the desks of Texas’ political leaders of the time to promote the bluebonnet.
In March of 1901, Lupinus subcarnosus was officially proclaimed by the 27th Texas legislature as the state flower of Texas. This wasn’t the end of the discussion, though, as many Texans wanted a different variety of the plant, called Lupinus texensis, to be named the state flower instead.
While Lupinus subcarnosus are typically lighter in color, Lupinus texensis are often a brighter shade of blue.
After years of debate, all bluebonnet varieties were recognized as Texas’ flower by 1971. This also includes any other species not yet discovered.
How a former First Lady used the bluebonnet to beautify Texas
More than 60 years after the bluebonnet was named Texas’ state flower, the plant became part of a larger movement inspired by former first lady Lady Bird Johnson.
Lady Bird Johnson joined her husband in the White House in 1963. Several years into her role, she advocated for the beautification of U.S. highways, encouraging wildflowers to be planted as a way to enhance natural scenery.
In 1964, she created the First Lady’s Committee for a More Beautiful Capital, which focused on beautification in Washington, D.C. Her work eventually helped lead to the passage of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, which limited the use of billboards in certain areas, required restrictions around junkyards and promoted wildflowers to be planted across the country.
The Johnsons left the White House in 1969, but Lady Bird Johnson continued her environmental efforts for years to come.
In 1982, she founded the National Wildflower Research Center in Austin, later renamed in her honor as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The botanical garden currently houses over 900 Texas plants, with a focus on conserving water, providing a habitat for wildlife, protecting the soil and preserving the garden’s 284 acres.
Visitors can also participate in events and activities like gardening, family birding and summer camps.
Bluebonnets’ impact on Texas’ culture, past and present-day
Bluebonnets also played a part in the lives of early Texans, dating back before the Republic of Texas.
During the early-mid 1700s, Jumano Indians in Texas and New Mexico said a woman appeared to them to teach about Christianity. This woman was a Spanish nun named María de Jesús de Agreda, who seemingly materialized in two places at once. She was eventually dubbed “The Lady in Blue,” and it was said she left a field of bluebonnets to grow across the region.
In indigenous culture, the Comanche Legend of Sacrifice tells the story of a girl called She-Who-Brings-Flowers, who gave up her doll in exchange for an end to a drought. In return, her people received bluebonnets across modern-day Texas.
Today, the plant is celebrated across the state with bluebonnet festivals in cities like Burnet, Waco and Chappell Hill, to name a few.
Every year since 1980, one author throughout the state is chosen by young voters for the Texas Bluebonnet Award (TBA).
How climate change affects bluebonnets
Typically, bluebonnets can sustain themselves through Texas’ extreme heat and often dry conditions, but in recent years, climate change has affected their growth.
Historically, the flowers bloom in late March or early April, but increasing temperatures can cause them to sprout in February, as reported in West Texas in 2024 and Central Texas in 2017.
Areas with more rain might also see an earlier start to bluebonnet season, as opposed to places where drought is evident. As global warming continues, these plants could grow even earlier in the coming years.
When bluebonnets sprout earlier, they’re more susceptible to freezes and frost. Not only that, but blooming before other flowers could negatively impact the ecosystems of Texas plants and wildlife by limiting the timeframe for pollination and interfering with natural cues.
If you come across a field of bluebonnets, you might also wonder whether it’s legal to pick them. Generally speaking, there’s no law against doing so, but it’s typically discouraged, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Certain spots like state parks and government properties also impose their own sets of rules. In these designated areas, picking the flowers is against the law.
While these flowers are most common in Texas, they also blossom in several other states, including in Arkansas and Oklahoma, as well as in portions of Mexico.
Where to view bluebonnets
Across the state, there are several popular places to find these flowers.
In Central Texas, McKinney Falls State Park offers over 700 acres for hikers, bikers, campers and more to get a view of the bluebonnets. Brushy Creek Lake Park provides another chance to get on your feet and see the flowers across 90 acres in Cedar Park.
If you’re looking to get out of Austin, you can also check out the Marble Falls Visitor Center, located about an hour northwest of the city. Visitors can also head to the “Bluebonnet House,” a well-known destination to stop and take photos.
Near Fredericksburg, you can drive along Willow City Loop, a 13-mile winding road with a view of meadows and valleys. Other scenic drives include State Highway 71, Park Hill Church and FM1431.
Also in the Hill Country is Wildseed Farms, located roughly 72 miles west of Austin. This wildflower farm boasts gardens, a plant nursery and a short trail. You can even purchase your own bluebonnet seeds in packets, ounces and pounds.
While bluebonnets are a part of Texas’ beauty, they also play a deeper role in the state’s history and culture, starting with Indigenous tribes and lasting through today. From ancient legends to modern-day festivals, bluebonnets remain a timeless emblem of Texas’ spirit—resilient, vibrant, and deeply rooted in its heritage