Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Friday - February 05, 2016

From: Kingsland, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Is it illegal to collect wildflower plants from county roads in TX?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

Is it illegal to collect wildflower plants like bluebonnets from county roads in Texas?

ANSWER:

We can tell when Spring is coming here at the Wildflower Center because we begin to get questions about the legality of picking blue bonnets along roadsides in Texas. You, however, use the word “collect” which, to me, means you are removing the plant and not just the flowers. Mr. Smarty Plants would prefer that you didn't remove the bluebonnets or other plants, but leave them for others to admire. This also allows the plants to set seed for next year's crop of beautiful flowers.

As to legality, here is a link to the Texas Department of Public Safety that says picking the flowers in the public right of way is legal, but cautions against removing plants. Picking plants on private property will subject you to laws against criminal tresspass.

This link to NBCDFW.com reiterates this message, but has lots of photos.

The History of Bluebonnets is from a previously answered Mr. Smarty Plants question which you may find interesting.

From the Image Gallery

Texas bluebonnet
Lupinus texensis

Texas bluebonnet
Lupinus subcarnosus