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Background
Info
US & Canada Planting Zones
The
Legend of the Pink Bluebonnet
Bluebonnet:
Complete Info on The Texas State Flower
Wildseed
Farms: How to Plant Wildflowers FAQ
Did
You Know?
Bluebonnets
are
Nature's Fertilizer!!
The
Texas bluebonnet belongs to the legume (bean) family Thanks to a nitrogen-fixing
soil organism called Rhizobium, which lives on the roots of legumes
and produces pure, clean, natural fertilizers rich in nitrogen, but
free of salt and chemical toxicity, bluebonnets can help get your garden
ready for those summer tomatoes!!
In
a symbiotic relationship that is an organic gardener's dream, Rhizobium
gives the legumes much needed nitrogen which it has taken in from the
air, while it lives on the roots of the legumes, receiving life support
from the plants. These plants, nurtured by a natural bacteria-formed
nitrogen instead of an applied fertilizer, can then be used as a source
for nitrogen when the plant tissue decomposes, their highly nodulated
roots an important source of nitrogen for the soil.
Natural
Pest &
Environment Controls
PyolaTM
and Soap-Shield®
Save on this Special Spray Combo
Gardeners should have these two products on hand right from the start
of the season -- Pyola to control insect pests and Soap-Shield to fight
disease. Buy combo and pay $5.95 less than if purchased separately!
Escar-Go!
Protect your plants from nasty slug damage. Lured by the tasty bait,
slugs and snails stop feeding soon after they eat Escar-Go!
Flowers
Alive!™
Slow-release nutrients encourage prolific bloom without excess foliage
growth. Research shows: 81% more geranium and 66% more zinnia flowers!
Selected nutrients help annuals produce spectacular color all season
long. Great for rejuvenating perennials, too! 3 lb bag.
 
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Part of the historical fabric of the Southwestern
US, the stars of Indian folk tales and favorites of
Spanish priests who grew these plants around their missions,
Bluebonnets trul are part of the landscape as we know
it.Once
known as "wolf flowers"(Lupinus
is derived from the Latin word lupus, meaning wolf),
believed to devour the soil because they were often found
growing in thin rocky soils which didn't support other plant
life, bluebonnets now have quite a different reputation,
as scientists have learned they are actually a source of all-important
nitrogen!! In fact, as a member of the legume family, Bluebonnet
plants can produce as much nitrogen as soybeans, which often
yield up to 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre.
(see sidebar for more details!)
Plant
seed in late August, early September in full sun, transplants
no later than Valentine's Day. Bluebonnets will not perform
well if grown in the shade or in an area which receives less
than 8-10 hours of direct sunlight. If grown in a shaded
area, the plant will be tall and spindly with few blooms.
The bluebonnet is one of a number of spring- blooming wildflowers
that germinate in the fall, their tops remaining inconspicuous
while the plant develops a massive root system over the winter.
Peak bloom should be around late March-April, tapering off
by June. Needs good drainage. Bluebonnets also
make great patio container plants.
To lengthen bloom time, snip off old blossoms. This eliminates
the production of seeds which would otherwise halt the bloom
cycle, instead encouraging a profusion of side shoots to develop
and subsequently bloom.
Return
to Vegetable
& Flower Index
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