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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - November 17, 2011
From: Mason City, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Seasonal Tasks, Wildflowers
Title: Overwintering Texas bluebonnets
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I planted Texas Bluebonnet and I want to know how to save them through the winter months. I think they are so beautiful. Can I cover them with something?ANSWER:
If your bluebonnet is Lupinus texensis (Texas bluebonnet), it is an annual and its plants will die during the winter. If you allowed it to drop its seeds, it could possibly grow again from them for next spring, although it is out of its natural range (see the distribution map from USDA Plants Database). In Texas the tiny rosettes of the spring plants have already appeared from the seeds deposited in spring and summer. They will overwinter and begin to grow taller after the warm spring rains and produce flowers in late March through the month of May. The Texas bluebonnet grows as far north as Oklahoma where the USDA Hardiness Zones 6 and 7. Since Mason City is in Zone 5a, the seeds may or may not germinate there. If you grew your bluebonnets from seeds for this year, then it may work. They should be in the ground by now, however. Here is a a How to Article, How to Grow Bluebonnets, that gives more details.
As an alternative to the Texas bluebonnet, there is a beautiful lupine, Lupinus perennis (Sundial lupine), that is native to Illinois. It is a perennial and blooms in May and June. You can check our National Suppliers Directory for nurseries in Illinois that specialize in native plants that might carry seeds for the sundial lupine. In a quick check I found that Wilson Seed Farms, Inc. in Tiskilwa, Illinois has seeds for sale.
From the Image Gallery
More Seasonal Tasks Questions
Cutting back plants after frost from Seguin TX
February 13, 2014 - When is best time to cut back native plants after frost kill?
Thanks
view the full question and answer
Planting bluebonnets
April 20, 2008 - How long do bluebonnet seeds take to mature, and when is the earliest in their development they can be harvested? When can they be scattered?
view the full question and answer
Time for seeding wildflower seeds in Castle Rock CO
October 03, 2011 - I live in Castle Rock, CO. When is the best time to plant wildflower seed?
view the full question and answer
Vinegar as a Herbicide
March 08, 2012 - When can you use vinegar on weeds to get rid of them.
view the full question and answer
Planning garden tasks in advance from Austin
January 03, 2012 - My yard was a disaster last year-grass and trees browning, early leaf fall on flowering plants, and water bills sky high, even with the limited watering days. What can I do this year to prevent this s...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |