Bluebonnets
Bluebonnets are now blossoming in Texas so I thought it would be a good time to try to explain the difference between a bluebonnet and a Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis).
Texas bluebonnets are actually six different Lupinus species with only one having the official name of Texas Bluebonnet or Lupinus texensis. Bluebonnets grow in most southwestern states, while Wild Lupine (Lupinus perrenis) grows in Wisconsin and most northeastern and southeastern states.
Although they are both in the Lupinus genus, they blossom at different times and, of course, in different climates. The shape of the petals of the Bluebonnet flower (raceme*) resembles the bonnets worn by pioneer women, hence the name. Typically blue in color, the flower florets also will grow in shades of white, pink, lavender, purple and maroon. Each floret has a wide white banner spot in the center of the banner petal. As the floret ages, this spot often turns reddish-purple. As the entire flower (raceme) ages, one of the top petals turns reddish-purple. It is considered ephemeral; it goes dormant by late spring.
According to Mike Quinn, past president of the Austin Butterfly Forum, “the bluebonnet is the larval food host for the Northern Cloudywing, Gray Hairstreak, Henry’s Elfin, Painted and American Lady, and Orange Sulphur butterflies.” (Wildflower.org)
Wild Lupine
Like the Texas Bluebonnet, Wild Lupine (Lupinus perrenis) likes well-drained soil and a sunny location. Wild Lupine, however, blooms late spring to early summer. It, too, is considered an ephemeral because it goes dormant by mid-summer. Its blooms, described as pea-like, are blue to violet in color and also have a white area at the tip of each floret.
Although the Wild Lupine is the only host plant for the Karner Blue butterfly caterpillar, a federally-endangered species native to the Great Lakes region, it is also a host plant for the Frosted Elfin and the Eastern Persius Duskywing butterflies.
Seeds and Leaves
All species of Lupinus have leaves which are palmate with anywhere from 3 to 11 leaflets. When seeds are ripe they spring from their pods with a popping sound. Before they can germinate, however, the seeds must be scarified (roughed up) to allow water uptake.
The bluebonnets and Wild Lupine belong to the Legume or Bean Family (Fabaceae or Leguminosae) which makes the plant a good source for nitrogren — a natural fertilizer. That is why plants of the Legume Family are able to grow so well in disturbed areas and often are used as a cover crop to enrich the soil.
*Spike-like cluster
This article creates even more confusion. Bluebonnets ARE LUPINES. Any plant in the genus Lupinus is a lupine, and there are many native lupines all across the continent, which are commonly referred to as wild lupines. Many plants can have the same common name. This should have been explained at the beginning, It is not wrong to call a bluebonnet a lupine. It is not wrong to refer to any native lupine growing in the wild as a wild lupine.
Thanks for writing and voicing your concern, Kathryn. You are indeed correct when you say bluebonnets are lupines, short for the genus Lupinus, and they grow in the wild. For that reason, you are also probably correct that they can be called “wild lupines,” but they are a different species from the formally named Wild Lupine (Lupinus perrensis). Bluebonnets or the wild lupines of the southwestern states have different species names — for example, Lupinus subcarnosus, L texensis, L Harvardii, L concinnus, L plattensis, etc — from the Wild Lupine (Lupinus perrensis) which grows in Wisconsin and most northeastern and southeastern states.
This explanation was very helpful to me explaining the regional difference between the two sub species. Thanks!
C — You’re welcome — Donna
Thank you very much for the clarification.that bluebonnets ARE lupines.
Thank you, Heidi — Donna
And another from out west:
https://calscape.org/Lupinus-albicaulis-()
And one more for the Western states, Mimi — Donna
Hello Donna!
I am desperate to transplant my one and only Texas Blue bonnet (3″ tall- that I grew from a seed packer, from Burpee). My tree has grown and is shading it.
I put the last seed in a pot on my deck and I want to put it in my garden where it can naturalize and create a lot more plants for next year. I need to know if they transplant well- as I cannot find any more seed packets.
Donna
P.S. I live in Littleton, Colorado
Sorry, this has been so long, Donna. I would suggest contacting the Wild Ones Chapter known as the Front Range Chapter. Their address is frontrangewildones@gmail.com. I know a little about Texas Blue Bonnets and they should know a lot. Visit the website for more information. Good luck! — Donna
Hello 🙂 I thought bluebonnets looked like lupins! Thank you for answering that! 🙂 we have wild lupins in the central mountains of idaho. They are so beautiful!
Angela — I am so glad — Donna