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Native Plant Database

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Lupinus subcarnosus (Sandyland bluebonnet)
Carr, Bill

Lupinus subcarnosus Hook.

Sandyland bluebonnet, Texas bluebonnet

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

USDA Symbol: lusu

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Texas bluebonnet is a 6-16 in. winter annual. The bright-blue, pea-like flowers have a white center which turns purple with age or pollination. These showy flowers occur in a loose terminal spike. Leaves are palmately divided into five leaflets.

Texas Bluebonnets mixed with various paintbrushes adorn roadsides, a colorful sign of spring in central Texas.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Complexity: Palmate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: LA , TX
Native Distribution: S.c. TX, scattered to n. Hidalgo Co.
Native Habitat: Sandy fields; roadsides
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Deep sands.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Bumble Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Plant seeds in the fall.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Scarification will hasten germination but is not absolutely necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0830 Collected Mar 27, 1994 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe

Bibliography

Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1985 VOL. 2, NO.1 - A Glorious Spring, Lupines in Landscapes, Director's Report, Notable Quote, Wild...

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lupinus subcarnosus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lupinus subcarnosus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lupinus subcarnosus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-12-13
Research By: TWC Staff

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