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Lupine
Lupinus
Lupine blooms from May through June.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Lupine
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 4–8. Expect it to reach about 3 ft tall and 1.3 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years.
When to plant Lupine
Plant Lupine in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 4 to 8 range, spring means March to May and fall means August or September. Once settled, it blooms from May to June.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 6 in March.
Comes in 11 varieties across 6 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Lupine
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Toxic quinolizidine alkaloids, most concentrated in the seeds and pods. Poisonous to dogs, cats, horses, livestock and people if eaten in quantity. per NC State and Pet Poison Helpline
Worth knowing
It is a legume and fixes its own nitrogen, so it thrives in poor, sandy ground. Rich soil or added nitrogen means floppy, leafy growth and fewer flowers. per NC State
Soil pH: sources disagree
Most sources want lean, slightly acidic soil (NC State: pH below 6.0); one wants neutral to slightly alkaline. Aim for slightly acidic to neutral and focus on sharp drainage. per NC State and SDSU
Short-lived, hates heat
A cool-climate plant that dislikes heat and humidity; even in ideal conditions it lives only about 2 to 5 years. In hot regions grow it as an annual. per NC State
Grow from seed, don't divide
It forms a deep taproot early, so established plants resent division and transplanting. Plant young and leave in place; to make more, sow scarified seed. per NC State
Native host for rare butterfly
The native wild lupine (L. perennis) is the only larval host plant of the endangered Karner blue butterfly; showy garden hybrids do not fill that role. per USDA Forest Service
Watch for lupine aphid
A large aphid feeds only on lupine and overwinters as eggs on the stems. Blast it off with water, and clear the top growth in fall cleanup. per Colorado State
What pairs well with Lupine
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Sneezeweed
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; orange against blue, for contrast.
False Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Joe Pye Weed
Shares full sun and moderate to high water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 5.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 6.6 ft, for the layer behind it.
Feather Reed Grass
Shares full sun and moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into late summer; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 4.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Fountain Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late summer, extending the bed's season; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; orange against blue, for contrast.
Switchgrass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late summer, extending the bed's season; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 4.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Arborvitae
Shares full sun and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; stands well above at 20 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
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