In Texas the bluebonnets and wildflowers are in bloom along the highways, country roads, fields, pretty much everywhere. The Texas Hill Country is particularly awash in bloom. The Ladybird Wildflower Center is an excellent place to visit and learn about wildflower and plants of Texas, and The Daytripper offers a Wildflower map to get out and enjoy.
The Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) begins blooming early spring, but the Big Bend bluebonnet can bloom as early as January. The Texas Legislature designated all six species that grow in the state, which are members of the large lupine genus, the State Flower. (Texas Highways)
The Indian paintbrush (Castilleja spp.) blooms early spring throughout the state of Texas and usually during the same time as bluebonnets giving so much color. There are several species, whose colors vary from scarlet to orange, cream, yellow, and occasionally purple. The bright tips of the petal-like bracts look like they’ve been dipped in paint. The genus name honors Spanish botanist Domingo Castillejo (1744-86). (Texas Highways)
