Alphabetical Plant Listing

Lupinus perennis (Wild Lupine)

Sundial Lupine, Wild Lupine, Perennial Lupine, Old Maid's Bonnets, Quaker Bonnets, Sundial, Sundial Lupin


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 are attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and many pollinators. The flowers are followed by hairy seed pods, which ripen in midsummer. The seed pods open forcibly, ejecting the seeds several feet away from the mother plant. Birds and small mammals feast on them. Wild Lupine is a cool-season plant that dies down in the heat of summer. 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.

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Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 8
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Lupinus - Lupines
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spread 10" – 2' (25cm – 60cm)
Spacing 10" – 18" (25cm – 45cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Dry Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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By Jeff Holcombe, Shebeko, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 8
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Lupinus - Lupines
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spread 10" – 2' (25cm – 60cm)
Spacing 10" – 18" (25cm – 45cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Dry Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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Guides with Lupinus - Lupines

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