Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Lupinus arbustus is a species of lupine known by the common name longspur lupine. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Utah, where it grows in several types of habitat, including sagebrush and forests. This is a perennial herb growing erect to a maximum of 70 centimeters tall. It is sometimes hairy in texture. Each palmate leaf is made up of 7 to 13 leaflets each up to 7 centimeters long. The flower cluster is up to 18 centimeters long, bearing whorls of flowers each up to 1.4 centimeters long. The calyx of sepals around the base of the corolla has a knoblike spur at the back. The flower corolla is white to yellow to various shades of purple or pink. The fruit is a hairy legume pod 2 or 3 centimeters long. There are several subspecies.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

8 - 28 in Tall

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Color

Blue, Lavender, Purple

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Propagation

For propagating by seed: Fresh seeds need no treatment. Stored seeds scarification or hot water.

Site type

Open places

Plant communities

Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

1 confirmed and 39 likely

Confirmed Likely

Lupine Dagger

Acronicta lupini

Agrochola purpurea

Painted Tiger Moth

Arachnis picta