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Rare White Bluebonnets Spotted at Inks Lake State Park
Rare white bluebonnets, caused by a genetic mutation, were spotted at Inks Lake State Park as drought impacts this year's bloom.
Published April 5, 2026 at 7:36pm by Dante Motley
Park Rangers at Inks Lake State Park in Burnet found a rare "albino" variant of bluebonnets, although these would be better called whitebonnets.
The park announced the rangers found the colorless flowers next to their headquarters.
"This rare variation is the result of a recessive gene that must be carried by both parent plants," the park said, "so it's pretty cool to see!"
Bluebonnets are the iconic blue wildflowers — also called Texas lupines — that serve as the state flower of Texas and typically bloom through mid- to late April, drawing people to fields, parks and roadsides across Central Texas each spring.
This year's bloom is expected to be uneven rather than widespread. Experts say inconsistent rainfall and ongoing severe to extreme drought across much of Central and South Texas — including the Austin area — may make bluebonnets harder to find, especially along roadsides.