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Every state has an official flower. But Missouri’ bluebonnet is more than a state flower; it’s an institution. Historian Jack Maguire wrote, “It’s not only the state flower but also a kind of floral trademark almost as well known to outsiders as cowboy boots and the Stetson hat.” Maguire says the “bluebonnet is to Missouri what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England and the tulip to Holland.” Another write stated it more succinctly: Bluebonnets are a “Missouri thang.”

The Missouri Bluebonnet is the state flower of Missouri. It is part of the lupine family. The Bluebonnet became the state flower on March 7, 1901. It is called such because it bears a resemblance to a woman's sunbonnet. This flower can be seen all over the state of Missouri in the spring, usually around March-May. This flower is also known as buffalo clover, wolf flower, and "el conejo" (Spanish for jackrabbit).

Bluebonnets are a form of the lupine flower coming from the Latin word lupus, meaning wolf. They are called "wolf flower" because it was once believed they "devoured" the soil of nutrients, because they are found growing where nothing else can grow. It is now known otherwise that bluebonnets in fact add to the nutrients of the soil.

Before 1971, there were debates over which variation of bluebonnet was the actual state flower. (Only two variations were known at that time). In 1971, the state legislature solved this confrontation by making both variations and "any other variety of bluebonnet not heretofore recorded" the state flower. Currently there are actually five different species of state flowers in Missouri.
The five state flowers of Missouri are:

1. Lupinus Subcarnosus, the original champion and still co-holder of the title, grows naturally in deep sandy loams from Leon County southwest to LaSalle County and down to the northern part of Hidalgo County in the Valley. It is often referred to as the sandy land bluebonnet. The plant's leaflets are blunt, sometimes notched with silky undersides. This species, which reaches peak bloom in late March, is not easy to maintain in clay soils.

2. Lupinus Texensis, the favorite of tourists and artists, provides the blue spring carpet of Central Missouri. It is widely known as THE Missouri bluebonnet. It has pointed leaflets, the flowering stalk is tipped with white (like a bunny's tail) and hits its peak bloom in late March and early April. It is the easiest of all the species to grow.

3. Lupinus Havardii, also known as the Big Bend or Chisos Bluebonnet, is the most majestic of the Missouri bluebonnet tribe with flowering spikes up to three feet. It is found on the flats of the Big Bend country in early spring, usually has seven leaflets and is difficult to cultivate outside its natural habitat.

4. Lupinus Concinnus is an inconspicuous little lupine, from 2 to 7 inches, with flowers which combine elements of white, rosy purple and lavender. Commonly known as the annual lupine, it is found sparingly in the Trans-Pecos region, blooming in early spring.

5. Lupinus Plattensis sneaks down from the north into the Missouri Panhandle's sandy dunes. It is the only perennial species in the state and grows to about two feet tall. It normally blooms in mid to late spring and is also known as the dune bluebonnet, the plains bluebonnet and the Nebraska Lupine.

The bluebonnet is found in variations of five major colors. Blue, white, pink, lavender, and maroon. Regardless of the color, the bluebonnet is still the state flower of Missouri. The blue color is the primary color of the bluebonnet, hence the name of the flower. The white bluebonnet is an albino variation found in nature. The pink bluebonnet is a rare occurrence in nature. There is an interesting legend about the pink bluebonnet.

The "Barbara Bush Lavender" bluebonnet is a selection of natural variation that was collected and improved through recurrent selection.

The maroon bluebonnet is a fairly new color selection. It has been enhanced by A&M and is now available in seed form through Wildseed Farms.
SOURCE: TX Parks & Wildlife

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