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Native Plant Society of Texas

Prairie Rose Chapter

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Eustoma exaltatum
aka Bluebells


Photo courtesy of Norman G. Flaig
and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center

A favorite native flower for many Texans is the Bluebell, Eustoma exaltatum. This is one of the most beautiful native flowers there is. They have been used so much as cut flowers in floral arrangements that they have been unable to reseed fully, so their populations have declined across much of their natural range. (However, seed is available for purchase.)

Eustoma, is from the Greek “eu,” meaning good, and “stoma”, meaning mouth. This is in reference to the large opening into the throat of the flower where the corolla lobes come together. Bluebells bloom throughout the heat of summer when many other wildflowers die out.

The blue to violet colored, five-petaled, bell-shaped flowers are 11⁄2 to 2 inches long and 2 to 21⁄2 inches across and there can be several on one stem. Flowering generally occurs between June and September or October. The leaves are a bluish- green color, thick and almost succulent-like, and are prominently three-veined – this can help you identify the plant before flowering. Plants can be 1 to 2 feet tall. Bluebells prefer damp, moist prairie sites and sun. They are often seen in areas where seeps run or close to a pond or tank.

Bluebells should be blooming soon, so watch for this gorgeous native plant

Bluebell Leaves
Photo Courtesy of Joseph A Marcus
and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: prairierose

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason