Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Dense Flowered Platycarpos (Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus) is an abundant native annual herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in open or disturbed or recently burned places, at elevations from 0-5200 feet. This variety (densiflorus) is one of three recognized varieties that have somewhat overlapping ranges. Densiflorus generally has pale yellow flowers, but they may also be tinged with pink or purple.

Plant type

Annual herb

Size

4 - 31 in Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow, Pink, Purple

Flowering season

Spring

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 5° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Tolerates a variety of soils as long as adequate drainage is provided. Tolerates sodic soil..
Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0

Propagation

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

Sunset Zones

3, 4, 5, 6, 7*, 8*, 9*, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Open or disturbed places

Plant communities

Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Foothill Woodland, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Sagebrush Scrub, Southern Oak Woodland, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest

Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

2 confirmed and 51 likely

Confirmed Likely

Silvery Blue

Glaucopsyche lygdamus

Boisduval's Blue

Icaricia icarioides

Lupine Dagger

Acronicta lupini

Agrochola purpurea