Lupine
- Current Stock:
- 0
- Other Names:
- garden lupine, big-leaved lupine, many-leaved lupine, blue-pod lupine
- Latin Name:
- Lupinus rivularis & polyphyllus
Lupine is a fast growing, perennial, nitrogen-fixing wildflower that is native to the Pacific Northwest. We sell two species, Riverbank Lupine and Big-Leaf Lupine.
Ornamental Qualities
Lupine has beautiful whorls of blue-purple flowers with pleasant scent. The perennial flower stalks can reach up to 3 feet and are very attractive to native insects, bees, and butterflies. The palmate purple-tinged leaves are particularly elegant, radiating out in circles around their leaf stems, holding Spring dew and rain drops in their center.
Consider growing Lupine with Great Camas or Common Camas to create a native meadow ecosystem that can provide food and beauty for you, the native pollinators, and the local wildlife. Everybody wins!
Environment and Culture
Lupine grows in open woodlands, streambanks, and meadows throughout the Pacific Northwest - including droughty, steep, gravelly slopes. They are a great pioneer species for disturbed areas, helping with erosion control, soil fertility, and reintroduction of native wildlife.
They prefer full sun and well drained soils but can tolerate partial shade and some winter soil saturation. They are very drought-hardy and rarely need summer watering after initial establishment. As a nitrogen fixer, Lupine is an excellent companion plant. Consider growing it under trees that do not cast a dense shade such as Oregon White Oak, or alongside other wildflowers and native grasses in a backyard meadow setting.
Care
Lupine is very hardy and drought tolerant once established. It is advisable to water them during establishment but once they have taken no summer watering is needed. Consider collecting seeds in the fall and spreading them in early spring. After a couple of seasons of spreading seed you can establish a sizable stand with minimal effort and expense.
Native Range: Rivularis: CA, OR, WA, BC Polyphyllus: WA, OR CA, NV, ID, MO. BC + Upper Northeast United States + Canada
USDA zones: 5-9
Ease of Care: Easy
Deer Resistance: Medium
Light Requirements: Sun-Part Shade
Soil Type: Dry-Moist, well-drained
Water Requirements: Dry, very drought tolerant after establishment
Pollination: Self Fertile
Bearing Age: N/A
Size at Maturity: 2-4ft
Bloom Time: April-June
Harvest Time: N/A
Pot Sizing Guide
Our policy lasts 30 days. If 30 days have gone by since your purchase, unfortunately we can’t offer you a refund or exchange. To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging. Gift cards are non-refundable. Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund. If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within a certain amount of days.
