Fabaceae
Pacific lupine
Lupinus lepidus
Also known as Lupinus lucidus, Lupinus lepidus subsp. typicus, Lupinus concinnus, Broadleaf lupine
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Pacific Lupine · Lupinus · Native Perennial · Wildflower · Nitrogen Fixer · Pollinator · Pacific Northwest · Fabaceae · Rock Garden · Ground Cover
Pacific lupine is a low-growing native perennial celebrated for its vibrant purple-blue flower spikes and ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting surrounding plants. It thrives in well-draining, slightly poor soils and requires minimal fertilization — overly rich soil promotes foliage over flowers. Plant in a sunny to partly shaded spot and water regularly until established, after which it becomes quite drought tolerant.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry between waterings once established · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- sandy loam
- Soil pH
- 7–8
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division, Cutting
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 4 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Root depth
- Deep
- Flowers
- Yes
- Foliage
- Fine
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- British Columbia, Oregon, Washington
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Sources: trefle, usda
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