The bluebonnet got its name from its brilliant color and the fact that it is said to look like a sunbonnet. The flower, in one species or another, blooms in early spring in almost every part of Texas. Early settlers in Texas thought that the flower must have come from Spain because Spanish priests worked hard to grow them. But this could not be true, as the flower only grows in Texas.
What is interesting is that Texas actually has five state flowers, according to many people, all of which are bluebonnets. In 1901, the Texas government was at first leaning toward the cotton ball, since cotton was more important than oil in those days. Then someone suggested cactus. But it was the Lupinus subcarnosus, also known as the bluebonnet, that finally won the bid of the government and was effectively put into law on March 7, 1901, as the official state flower of Texas.
That is when people decided that having the Lupinus subcarnosus was not what they wanted and essentially went to war on the entire subject. The Lupinus subcarnosus was considered by some to be the least attractive of the Texas bluebonnets. It is dainty, with royal-blue coloring, and can be found on the rolling hills of the coastal areas, as well as in southern Texas. But people did not think it was pretty enough and wanted the Lupinus texensis, which was bigger and bolder, much like Texans themselves. Also royal blue in color, but much deeper blue, the variety literally covers most of Texas and has been shown in various works of art by many local artists.
Off and on for about 70 years, people continued to lobby the legislature to correct what they considered to be an oversight. But the legislature was not about to get into what it thought to be a ridiculous "war" over flowers. It added the two species together, as well as any other variety of the bluebonnet not recorded as of that time. They grouped them into one state flower.
However, most agree now that the Lupinus subcarnosus still reigns supreme. Sometimes called the sandy land bluebonnet, it is a striking plant, as you can see when it blooms in the spring. With blunt leaves notched with silky undersides, it peaks in late March.
