Is it Legal to Pick Bluebonnets in Texas?

Since the Texas Legislature adopted the bluebonnet as the state flower in 1901, it has been a roadside attraction for natives and visitors alike. Despite the impression that it is unlawful to pick bluebonnets, it is not.

Varieties of Bluebonnets

• Bluebonnets can sprout almost anywhere. Bluebonnets 4 image by Olivia Ogden from Fotolia.com

  The Lupinus subcarnosus, a species of bluebonnet also known as buffalo clover, was the original state flower of Texas. Years later, the Lupinus texensis emerged as the perennial favorite among residents. In 1971, the Texas Legislature approved all bluebonnets, or lupines, as the state flower.

Bluebonnet Traditions

• Bluebonnets produce nitrogen in soil. field of blooming flowers image by Wouter Tolenaars from Fotolia.com

  The bluebonnets make such a wonderful backdrop for spring photography that many families take an annual bluebonnet photo. Blooming every spring, from late March through May, bluebonnets have found a home in pastures, ranchlands, city parks and residential lawns.

Roadside Caution

• While it's not illegal to pick bluebonnets, it can be hazardous to stop along a major highway for a photo. Shutterbugs sometimes disregard traffic flow and no-trespassing signs to capture a photograph. Be careful. A field of bluebonnets makes a nice hiding place for rattlesnakes.