How the winter storm could affect Texas' bluebonnets and wildflowers this spring

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Tuesday, March 9, 2021
How the bluebonnet became the Texas state flower
The beautiful blue flower waving in the wind has a long history as a state symbol. Hear the story behind its official designation with images from Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Hope sprung up for an early and abundant wildflower season around Texas when the first beloved bluebonnets of 2021 surprised Houston in January.

By mid-February, hope froze to death with the rest of the state.

Now that Texas has thawed out and we're back to shorts-weather, the question on every wildflower watcher's mind is: What'll happen with our bluebonnets?

The answer, Texas horticulture experts say, is hard to pinpoint because the Winter Storm was such an extreme and unusual weather event. But Texans needn't worry. The state flower is still going to blanket fields, parks, and roadsides this year. We'll just need to be patient, experts say, because their grand entrance could be delayed.

For more on this story, visit our partners at Houston CultureMap.