Bluebonnet 'Texas Maroon (Alamo Fire)' (Lupinus texensis)

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htop San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) May 02, 2004

Bluebonnet 'Texas Maroon (Alamo Fire)'
Lupinus texensis

The 'Texas Maroon' bluebonnet is also sold as 'Alamo Fire'. Shown in April. (San Antonio, Tx.)

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Post #856270
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Toxicodendron Piedmont, MO(Zone 6a) May 03, 2004

Very pretty...looks like red and white snapdragons. I have tried to grow lupines here with no success...lose them over the winter...maybe it is too wet for them.
Did you grow this one?

Post #857173
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htop San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) May 03, 2004

This group of plants is growing at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. I have planted them before, but mine never developed this deep hued color. They were much lighter reddish maroon. I have found that the bluebonnets' colors are much deeper when grown in unamneded soil. The development of this shade and others taking over 17 years is a very interesting story. It can be found at the link below if you care to read about it. Click on "Texas Maroon Bluebonnets" in the left frame.

http://texassuperstar.com/plants.html

These are annual Texas native wildflowers so they die down when the temperatures rise to a consistent daytime high of in the 90s. I have never attempted to grow other lupines. Thanks for your comments.

Post #857587
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rutholive Tonasket, WA(Zone 5a) May 03, 2004

Lovely lupine coloring. Wish I could grow one that color. i do grow quite a few developed lupine, they like my alkaline soil. Great photo. Donna

Post #857685
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htop San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) May 03, 2004

Thanks, Donna. It seems they do best in alkaline soil

Post #857820
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Toxicodendron Piedmont, MO(Zone 6a) May 04, 2004

I'm glad you mentioned alkaline soil. Ours is acidic, and a local nursery is selling lupines this year. A friend of mine bought one and I told her to lime the soil and add gravel for drainage...thanks for confirming that. I still doubt that hers makes it past this year. I decided not to waste any more money trying to grow something that just does not like it here.

Post #858698
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htop San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) May 04, 2004

It took me a few years to figure out why the blooms on mine mine were not as full of color as good as those growing in the wild in the fields right by my house.

Post #858712
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