Chances are that if you’ve been in the Texas region recently, that you’ve come across a whole host of different blue wildflowers on your adventures. Blue flowers are one of the most common colors of wildflowers in Texas, and they span over the entire region.
The trouble is, if you come across one of these beautiful wildflowers on your travels, how are you supposed to identify them? It can be difficult to discern what each wildflower really is, especially if you’re not a native of the region.
Thankfully, that’s where we come in. Below, we’ve compiled this handy guide that we hope will help you to identify some of the blue wildflowers found ubiquitously in Texas.
You can refer back to this list whenever you need to, and we’ve provided plenty of pictures to help you get started too. To find out more, simply keep reading below, as we take a closer look.
1. Bachelor’s Button
We’ll start off our list with this charming blue flower, which has been termed the ‘Bachelor’s Button’. You can find this ubiquitously in the Texas region, and it’s one of the most common blue flowers you’ll find there.
It grows in a whole host of different colors too, such as red and purple, so you might find a few different variants of this one.
Depending on where you’re from, some of you might more easily recognize this one as being a ‘Cornflower’.
The Bachelor’s Button is known for being completely pest and disease free, so if you feel like taking a cutting home and planting in your own garden, you can absolutely do so.
We’d also recommend this one as a good beginner flower for those who are just getting started out with gardening, because it’s completely drought resistant. So, if you forget to water this one for a little while, it won’t suffer.
2. Texas Bluebonnet
Moving on to another incredibly popular flower in the Texas region, this one is actually native to the country itself.
It garnered its name purely because it’s found so ubiquitously all over Texas. This one is also the most beloved and popular in the region, and is, in fact, the state flower of Texas.
It was actually declared to be the state flower way back in 1901, and due the sunbonnet like hats, which were a popular fashion staple for women at the time, it was affectionately named the Texas bluebonnet.
In terms of the life cycle of these popular flowers, they’re actually known as ‘annual’ flowers. This means that they have a life cycle that follows the trajectory of one whole year. They will form from seed to flower during this whole time.
You will often see these popular flowers growing on roadsides during your travels to the region.
3. Chicory
The next common wildflower that we’re going to be discussing that’s native to the region of Texas, is the Chicory flower.
The Chicory flower is known for having a perennial life cycle, so it blooms during the Spring, and dies out when fall approaches.
The most interesting thing about these flowers is that they actually only fully bloom for one day, so if you manage to catch them, you’re witnessing a pretty rare event.
If you want to spot the Chicory flower on your travels, then you’re going to need to head out to patches that are super cool and dry, where this one tends to thrive the most. They also grow ubiquitously in open fields.
One of the most interesting things about Chicory flowers that many people aren’t aware of, is that they’re actually edible, and packed full of good nutrients.
The leaves in particular, are packed full of vitamins and minerals. So, if you get the chance to collect some, we’d recommend that you do so!
Many people will actually chop up the leaves, and then put them in salads, or use them as garnishes for pasta dishes. Make sure that if you’re planning on using these leaves that you cook them a little first, as this helps to get rid of the bitter taste that they contain
In addition to this, some people will actually cook the roots too, which are also considered to be very nutritious.
4. Blue Vervain
Another wildflower that’s common to the Texas region is Blue Vervain. This is an incredibly beautiful flower that grows on a large, tall stem.
They resemble lavender in many respects, and you might find that sometimes they appear to be more of a purplish flower, despite their namesake.
Blue Vervain is known for growing ubiquitously in the region, and despite being drought resistant, it is not intolerant to wet conditions either, and you can find it growing in marshes and patches of wet soil.
Most commonly, however, you will find this flower growing in plains, and on foothill areas. It has a perennial life cycle, so you’ll only spot this beautiful flower during the springtime.
This flower is actually particularly important for the environment, simply because it attracts so much wildlife. Honey bees, in particular, are known for being fond of this flower. As well as honey bees, it also attracts moths, wasps, and skippers.
5. Common Periwinkle
Some of you might have had the pleasure of spotting this pretty little flower on your adventures to the region. It’s actually known for being native to regions in North America, but nonetheless, it grows ubiquitously in Texas too.
If you want to spot this pretty flower, then you’re likely to find it in regions which are partially shaded, such as woodlands. It blooms all year round as a result, and you can even find this flower in bloom at the beginning of winter.
It’s known for attracting a number of different species of bees, including the mason bee.
6. Forget Me Not
Many of you reading this list will already be familiar with the flower known as, Forget Me Not. It’s also known in some parts as the Scorpion weed.
That’s because the flower’s stem creates an effect that looks somewhat like a tail. As well as this, for those who are native to the region, it is sometimes regarded as a pest.
Some of you reading this list might think that it has its namesake purely because it’s so pretty, you’re not soon to forget it.
But, it’s actually more to do with the smell of the flower. Forget Me Not’s are known for having an incredibly unpleasant and pungent odor that you’re not likely to forget any time soon.
They can thrive in most conditions, and the seeds proliferate very quickly, so you’re likely to see large patches covered with these types of flowers.
7. Asiatic Dayflower
Let’s take a look at one of the lesser known flowers of the region, which is known as the Asiatic Dayflower. The Asiatic Dayflower is considered to be a weed (albeit, a very beautiful one)that grows annually.
It has a total of three petals, which can sometimes all be blue, but sometimes boast one white petal too.
You won’t find this one in the more rural areas of Texas, as it tends to grow within the most populated areas within the city.
Despite being considered a weed, we’d recommend that if you find this one growing in your garden, that you don’t destroy it, but rather, move it to a different location.
The reason why you shouldn’t destroy this flower is that it’s incredibly important for the life cycle of caterpillars, which will eventually transform into Pearl Crescent butterflies.
8. Blue Moon
This blue wildflower is considered to be particularly beautiful, with a medium shade of blue, and grows in large bunches, packed closely with one another. You will sometimes come across varieties of this particular flower that are white too, so it can vary in color.
This wildflower is known for having a particularly strong, and fragrant odor, so if you come across it, be sure to smell the perfumed blooms.
One of the strange things about this flower is that they actually have super sticky stems, which can leave an odd substance on your hands if you touch them.
They’re deer resistant, as well as being great at attracting hummingbirds as well as bees. They make a great addition to gardens.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, we hope that this article has been helpful, and we wish you luck in your wildflower identification endeavors.
I love sharing my experiences with individuals in this community, and I enjoy sharing some of the best tips I have learned over the years caring for my own garden at home.
In my articles, you will find the best flowers, most fragrant flowers you can plant in your garden, how to care for your favorite plants, informative guides and how-tos so you can have the best backyard in town!
- Interesting Flowers That Start With A - July 21, 2023
- Interesting Flowers Beginning With H - July 21, 2023
- 14 Fascinating Flowers That Begin With C - July 20, 2023