Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Lupinus shockleyi is a species of lupine known by the common name purple desert lupine. It is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, where it grows in open desert habitat. It is an annual herb growing up to 30 centimeters tall. Each palmate leaf is made up of 8 to 10 leaflets measuring 1 to 3 centimeters in length. The inflorescence is a small spiral of flowers. Each flower is about half a centimeter long and deep purple-blue in color with a yellowish patch on its banner. The fruit is an oval legume pod coated in thick, inflated hairs.

Plant type

Annual herb

Size

2 - 12 in Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Blue, Lavender, Purple

Water

Moderate

Plant communities

Creosote Bush Scrub

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 25 likely

Confirmed Likely

Painted Tiger Moth

Arachnis picta

Alfalfa Looper Moth

Autographa californica

Forage Looper Moth

Caenurgina crassiuscula