Sowing Bluebonnet Seeds

I have some bluebonnet seeds that were gathered last year and would like to know the best time to sow them. I overheard someone say that the seeds should be soaked and sown in the fall, however, I'm not sure they are that picky as they grow in the wild and nobody soaks them and they only depend on whatever rain comes along.

P.S. Do not turn me in to Texas authorities as I understand they are protected there. These came from the gardener at a church across the road from me as he was clearing them away after they bloomed last year.

I see bluebonnet seed packets at most of the stores so you should be fine. I don't think there's a national ban on them, you just can't pick the flowers or gather the seed from what grows in Texas.

I think they're supposed to be sewn, most everywhere, in the fall. They then bloom the following spring from March through May. The seeds should still be fine this fall and perhaps a fall sewing will give you the best results.

I decided to buy some of the seeds at Home Depot last fall and planted them, in October, here in South Florida. They grew all winter and started blooming in mid March (pic attached). They're still blooming. They don't need much water and prefer to be slightly on the dry side. Give them lots of room, because the growth is slow at first, but then they take off real fast in late winter. I would guess each plant is 8-12" tall and 12-18" wide.

Jon

Thanks, Jon! Love the picture of your bluebonnets. Will probably try them both here in FL and in AR.

I bought a few bluebonnets this year and set out. Oh how I love them! I was wondering the same thing Jean. I know fall is when most people would plant them. I was wondering how long they bloom and if they die back? I was looking for seeds on the flowers that were dying this morning, but didn't see any. Thanks

if I remember correctly from my days in Tx, the tops of the flowers will turn a reddish color at the end of their growing cycle. I think it's sometime after that, that they set seed.

here you go Jean, this might help http://www.heirloomgardenexperts.com/articles/growing_texas_bluebonnets

Thsnk you

Trust me, you'll easily see the seed pod as the blooms start to fade. They look like bean pods forming on the bottom of each stem and the seeds have to be in there. Hard to explain it, but you'll know exactly what I'm referring to when you see it. I can see why they easily reseed themselves each year. Lots and lots of pods form.

Oh good! I can't wait to have a bed full of them next spring. They are a real show stopper.
Do you know if they die down after they develp seeds?

Quilter, thanks for the article. Can't wait until next year to see bluebonnets in the yard!

I would assume they are going to die back pretty soon. Apparently they're only in bloom for a couple of months in Teaxs each spring.