Plant Sales

Annual Maroonbonnet Sales

Every year, our department grows these beautiful and genetically bred maroon bonnets AKA Alamo Fire bluebonnets right here in the heart of Aggieland where it all began in 1983.

_____________

The Story of the Maroon Bonnets:

These brilliant blooms didn't spring up overnight. It all started with a friendly challenge back in 1983. 

Dr. Michael Arnold, Horticulture Professor and Director of the Gardens at Texas A&M, says his former colleague, retired professor Dr. Jerry Parsons, was challenged to create a Texas State Flag entirely of red, white, and bluebonnets. 

"At the time, red bonnets didn't exist. So they started with pinks and progressively worked on getting darker and darker colors," says Dr. Arnold.

Pink bonnets do naturally occur but are extremely rare. The pink bonnets used to create the first maroon bonnets were rescued from a construction site in San Antonio. The process used to weed out the lighter pink bonnets and develop a darker shade of pink and eventually maroon is called recurrent selection. 

It took 20 years, but the red bonnet, known as the Aggie bonnet or maroon bonnet, is now a constant show of school spirit and ingenuity. 

Windler, Chickage. "The story of the maroon bonnet" 

CBS Austin, 9 April 2023

Our Roots

"This ain't our first rodeo!" Aggies have been selling plants forever! The TAMU Horticulture Club takes pride in hosting the largest student-organized plant sale on campus., from our Maroon Bonnet Sales to the Semesterly Plant Sales, our club has been doing it since the start of time!
______________