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Lupines: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Lupine Flowers | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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Lupines

Botanical Name
Lupinus spp.
Plant Type
Flower
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Part Sun
Soil pH
Neutral
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time
Spring
Summer
Flower Color
Blue
Pink
Purple
Red
White
Yellow
Hardiness Zone
3
4
5
6
7
Special Features
Attracts Birds
Attracts Butterflies
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How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Lupine Flowers

Catherine Boeckmann
June 2, 2023
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Lupines, with their colorful flower spikes, are some of the most popular garden perennials of them all! Deer-resistant and low-maintenance, lupines attract pollinators and butterflies, too. See our complete guide to planting, growing, and caring for lupines.

Lupinus includes hundreds of species, many native to North America! You’ll see them both in the wild and in gardens—from California to Maine. This hardy perennial blooms in late spring (April to June) and is a great addition to a low-maintenance meadowscape or cottage-style garden. 

The pea-like flowers are arranged on upright spikes varied in color from deep blue to purple shades. Growing 1 to 4 feet tall, the leaves of lupine are also beautiful with grey-green palmate foliage with silvery hairs. The seed pod looks like a hairy pea pod and contains up to 12 seeds. In fact, lupines are a legume, which means that they fix nitrogen in the soil and they enrich your soil health. 

Note: Not all lupines are perennials; the potted plants are typically perennial cultivars but other lupines are annuals.

Read Next

Planting

Lupines prefer full sun; they’ll grow in light shade but won’t flower as profusely. They also prefer sandy, well-drained soil and can’t survive water-logged conditions. Also, they can not tolerate heavy soils so be sure to loosen the soil up before planting. 

When to Plant Lupines

  • Lupine seeds are sown in early spring or in the fall. Many gardeners prefer to plant in fall to enjoy them mid-spring. 
  • If starting seedlings indoors, you can transplant them when they are about 4 to 6 weeks old. At this age they haven’t developed the long tap root and will have a better chance to survive.

How to Plant Lupines

  • First, just loosen soil for the lupines’ long tap roots to grow; loosen to a depth of about 1 to 1-1/2 foot; amend with organic matter and grit for good drainage. 
  • Before planting, soak seeds in a bowl of warm water 24 to 48 hours to soften the tough seed coat, and then you must “scarify” the seeds to allow moisture to reach the seed; this means roughening the seeds between two sheets of sandpaper before planting.
  • To sow seeds, dig a hole 1/2 inch deeper than the seedling pot and twice as wide. Space seedlings for smaller varieties about 1 foot apart and larger varieties about 2 to 3 feet apart. 
  • Tamp down the seeds, ensuring good soil contact. Water, and if the weather is dry, water lightly until germination, which can take up to 10 days.
Growing
  • Apply fertilizer every 4 weeks during the summer months.
  • Taller varieties may need staking.
  • Cut off faded flowers to promote more blooms.
  • Save the seeds when the pods turn yellow.
  • Don’t cut dead spikes in the fall, wait until spring.
  • Add mulch around the plants to keep the roots cool (and for winter protection).
  • Do not allow mulch or other organic matter to touch the crown of the plant, as it could introduce rot.
Recommended Varieties

There are over 200 wild species of lupine, and most are North American natives. These usually have blue, white, or yellow flowers.

Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis) is the blue perennial plant that grows in the eastern half of the North America.

Texas Bluebonnet (L. texensis) is an annual plant with dark blue flowers with white markings and cover fields and roadsides in Texas every April.

Russell hybrid lupines (L. polyphyllus) also called garden lupines have been the basic perennial group from which all new hybrids are created. Be patient; it can take a year to begin its abundant blooms.

The Russell Lupine Mix seeds are easy to grow and the tall flowers bloom in a variety of colors.

Lupine Woodfield Hybrids are perennial plants which come in deeper shades and beautiful bi-colored blooms.

Dwarf hybrids ‘Dwarf Lulu’ and ‘Minarette’ grow only to 1 ½ to 2 feet tall. Excellent for small gardens, containers or the front of beds and borders. Plants grow to 20 inches tall. Winter hardy to zone 4.

Wit and Wisdom
  • Lupines are nitrogen-fixing and can improve your soil!
  • Many species of lupine are poisonous to livestock.
  • Lupines are deer-resistant.
  • The lupine flowers are not edible, but the seeds are. The nut-like seeds were once a favorite food for traveling troops in ancient Europe.
  • Lupine seeds can be ground into flour. In Europe this flour is used in baking.
Pests/Diseases

Aphids can occasionally infest the plant.

Gardening
Growing
Flowers
Perennials

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Comments

Adria (not verified)

13 hours 4 min ago

I my lupin seeds germinated after 6 days and I didn't soak them or fiddle with sand paper.
Seems like a bizarre piece of advice not sure if originates from ancient times and no one ever questioned its validity.
Lupins self seed naturally and seeds need no help from a sand paper ! I suggest you probably should remove that as it sounds a bit silly.

Savannah (not verified)

4 months 2 weeks ago

Aren’t these plants poisonous?

Arthur A Edwards (not verified)

2 years 11 months ago

Where Do you recommend we purchase plants from?.

These are all relatively common garden plants, so you should be able to find them at most local nurseries or garden centers!