Seeded a large area with 5 lbs of bluebonnets back in the fall.

Looks like I got a solid germination.

Most are looking ready to bloom in the next few weeks, but quite a few are still just 2 raindrop shaped pedals.

What happens to the seeds that set roots, germinate, but don't flower and make a seed head? Are they lost to the soil and never reach maturity?

They might just bloom later?

I suppose that's possible. They are just way way behind their bigger counterparts. I figure these just didn't have the right conditions as soon as the others.

Our bluebonnets start popping up in December or sooner. But for what it's worth on one end of our place bluebonnets are blooming and on the other end they are silver dollar sized plants. They seem to be highly susceptible to minuscule variations in conditions.

It is my understanding that only a fraction of seeds even germinate, with most hanging tight to germinate under better conditions. It ensures the success of the species. I'd say it's possible your plants will never reach maturity but the ones that didn't germinate will another year and all will be well.

That's my understanding anyway. I'm not a bluebonnet expert in any sense. That's just what I've observed some years I've had droughts and not a single plant even came up but yet I have an entire pasture when we have rain. Must be tons of seeds waiting for perfection.

Where did you get the seed from?

I planted some seed Dec. 2020 and I still had a few stragglers blooming in Aug. 2021

Is it too late to put some seeds out now? I'm guessing yes.

my understanding for germination this year yes, it's too late. however mother nature puts them out in the spring.

Seed source out of Junction

https://seedsource.com/

Sea Speed said:

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Is it too late to put some seeds out now? I'm guessing yes.

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yes

I did experiment with putting down seed in late spring - since that's when they seed out - but found better success with fall seeding. I'll usually do it around Halloween or early Nov. if I see some wet weather coming.