Lupinus perennis (Wild Lupine)

Lupinus perennis (Wild Lupine) is a showy perennial boasting narrow, elongated clusters of usually deep blue, pea-like flowers from mid-spring to mid-summer. The ravishing blossoms are borne atop erect stems, well above the elegant foliage of palmately compound blue-green leaves. Rich in nectar, they attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinators. The flowers are followed by hairy seed pods, which ripen in midsummer. The seed pods open forcibly, ejecting the seeds several feet from the mother plant. Birds and small mammals feast on them. Wild Lupine is a cool-season wildflower that dies down in summer heat. It is a long-lived nitrogen-fixing plant that grows from a taproot that penetrates the soil to a great depth. Wild Lupine is excellent for the perennial border, prairie reconstruction, or any naturalized area as long as their soil is sandy.

• Grows up to 24 in. tall (60 cm) and 10-18 in. wide (25-45 cm).
• Thrives in full sun or part shade in sandy, acidic, dry, well-drained soils. Requires good drainage but is very adaptable.
• An excellent choice for informal gardens, prairies, and meadows.
• Propagated by offsetting rhizomes from the root and by seed.
• All parts, particularly the seeds, may cause severe discomfort if ingested. Toxic only if eaten in large quantities. Wear gloves and wash your hands after handling.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses, toxic to humans.
• Native to North America.