Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Lupinus littoralis is a species of lupine known by the common name seashore lupine. It is native to the coastline of western North America from British Columbia to northern California, where it grows in sandy habitat. It is a low perennial herb or subshrub growing in a clump or mat no more than 30 centimeters tall. Each palmate leaf is divided into 5 to 9 leaflets up to 3.5 centimeters long. The herbage is coated in long, shaggy whitish or silvery hairs. The flower cluster is raceme of whorled flowers each around a centimeter long. The flower is purple in color with a white patch on its banner that fades pinkish. The fruit is a hairy legume pod 3 or 4 centimeters long containing up to 12 seeds.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

1 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Blue, Lavender, Purple, White

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast

Propagation

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

Sunset Zones

4*, 5*, 15, 16, 17, 24

Site type

Sandy places

Plant communities

Coastal Strand, Northern Coastal Scrub

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 36 likely

Confirmed Likely

Agrochola purpurea

Painted Tiger Moth

Arachnis picta

Orange Tortrix Moth

Argyrotaenia franciscana

Alfalfa Looper Moth

Autographa californica