Carried by 8 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Lupinus polyphyllus is a species in the Fabaceae (Legume) family that is native to a large part of western North America. In California it is found primarily in the Sierras and other northern mountains. It commonly grows along streams and creeks, preferring moist habitats. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with stout stems growing to 1.5 meter tall. The leaves are palmately compound with (5-) 9-17 leaflets 3-15 centimeter long. The flowers are produced on a tall spike, each flower 1-1.5 centimeter long, most commonly blue to purple in wild plants. It is almost always grown from seed.
Perennial herb
8 - 60 in Tall
3 ft Wide
Upright
Summer Deciduous
Blue, Lavender, Purple
Spring, Summer
Containers, Deer resistant
Full Sun
High, Moderate
Max 2x / month once established
Tolerates cold to -10° F
Fast, Medium, Slow
Adaptable.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0
For propagating by seed: Fresh seeds need no treatment. Stored seeds scarification or hot water.
Moist places in central and northern foothills and mountains
Meadows, Red Fir Forest, Wetland-Riparian
Use with other wetland plants such as Columbine (Aquilegia formosa or exima), Virgin's Bower (Clematis ligusticifolia), Dogwood (Cornus spp.), Sticky Cinquefoil (Drymocallis glandulosa), Stream Orchid (Epipactis gigantea), Gum Plant (Grindelia spp.), Ocean Spray (Holodiscus discolor), Iris species, Leopard Lily (Lilium pardalinum), Scarlet Monkeyflower (Erythranthe cardinalis), Seep Monkeyflower (Erythranthe guttata), Evening Primrose (Oenothera elata), California Buttercup (Ranunculus californicus), Bee Plant (Scrophularia californica), Triteleia species, and Viola species.
Butterflies and moths supported
1 confirmed and 50 likely