Is it illegal to pick bluebonnets in Texas?
It is legal to pick bluebonnets in Texas, provided you are on public or private land.
Picking bluebonnets in Texas is not prohibited by any specific state law, despite the popular urban legend. While it is legal to pick the state flower, you must ensure you are not trespassing on private property or damaging state property while doing so. It is also illegal to pick flowers in Texas State Parks. You are encouraged to practice safety and environmental stewardship to ensure the flowers can seed for the following year.
RELEVANT LAWS
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Code § 59.134Prohibiting the picking of plants in State Parks
- Texas Penal Code § 30.05Criminal Trespass on private property
- Texas Penal Code § 28.03Criminal Mischief involving damage to public property
POTENTIAL PENALTIES
- Up to $500 fine for picking plants within a Texas State Park
- Up to $2,000 fine and 180 days in jail for criminal trespass on private land
- Fines for obstructing traffic if stopping illegally on a highway shoulder
JURISDICTION
While the act is legal statewide, municipal ordinances may restrict picking plants in city-owned parks or botanical gardens.
The bluebonnet was designated the state flower of Texas in 1901 after a heated debate where it defeated suggestions for the open-boll cotton and the prickly pear cactus.
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