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Lupinus L. Lupines
There are about 280 species of lupines worldwide. The genus, Lupinus (from Lupus, "wolf"), reflects an old belief that lupines consume nutrients voraciously from the soil. Ironically, the opposite is true. Lupines trap or "fix" nitrogen directly from the atmosphere, creating their own fertilizer. Sometimes they are even planted among other crops because they produce enough nitrogen to improve their growth as well. Lupines are early colonizers of disturbed areas. They are prized by gardeners for their attractive spikes of flowers. Identification: Lupines' tall, attractive flower spikes are a their most noticeable feature from a distance. Up close, lupines have palmlike leaves—rosettes of several narrow leaflets, like spokes on a wheel. Yellow bush lupine (Thermopsis villosa) has similar flowerheads, but different leaves. They have pealike pods, but don't eat them, as they have several poisons. Online References:
The Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council’s Plant of the Month site |
(Lupinus) · 6/15/2013 · Sonny and Donna’s, Tenant’s Harbor, Maine
(Lupinus) · 6/15/2013 · Sonny and Donna’s, Tenant’s Harbor, Maine |
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Some lupines: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lupinus arboreus |
Lupinus arcticus |
Lupinus succulentus |
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| Plant | 5-6½' (1.5-2 m) in height, and about 4' (1.2 m) around, significantly larger than other lupine species. | 8-24" (20-60 cm) tall. | 8-39" (20-100 cm) high. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flowers | In sweet-scented spikes 6" (15 cm) long. Usually yellow, they may be lilac or blue instead. | Spikes are 6-12" (15-30 cm) long and 1-2" (2.5-5 cm) around. They are a rich dark blue or violet, or, sometimes, white. | Spikes 3½-6" (9-15 cm) high. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leaves | Silky, dark green or gray-green, palm-like in appearence, with 5-12 leaflets on each leaf. Each leaflet is ¾-2" (2-6 cm) long. | Palmlike, bright green and smooth on top, and hairy below. 5-9 leaflets per leaf, each 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) long, and up to ¼" (6.3 mm) wide, usually with rounded tips. | Palmlike, in rosettes of 7-9 leaflets. Each leaflet is ¾-2" (2-6 cm) × ¼-¾" (7-20 mm). | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fruit | Like pea pods, right down to the "peas" inside. (But don't eat them!) | Similar to pea pods, 1¼-1¾" (3.5-5 cm) long × ¼-⅜" (8-10 mm), with 6-9 seeds per pod. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Type | Wild | Wild | Wild | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(Lupinus) · 6/16/2013 · Sonny and Donna’s, Tenant’s Harbor, Maine
≈ 3 × 2½' (95 × 79 cm) 
Species not yet identified 
(Lupinus) · 6/16/2013 · Sonny and Donna’s, Tenant’s Harbor, Maine Species not yet identified 
(Lupinus) · 6/15/2013 · Sonny and Donna’s, Tenant’s Harbor, Maine
≈ 11 × 15" (28 × 37 cm) Species not yet identified 
(Lupinus) · 6/15/2013 · Sonny and Donna’s, Tenant’s Harbor, Maine
≈ 7 × 11" (18 × 28 cm) Species not yet identified 
Lupinus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.
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(Lupinus) · Much more lush than when seen in the desert ... tall and full and blue. By Karol M from Arizona, USA. · 3/8/2005 · Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona 
(Lupinus) · 6/16/2013 · Sonny and Donna’s, Tenant’s Harbor, Maine
≈ 16 × 24" (39 × 59 cm) Species not yet identified 
(Lupinus) · 6/15/2013 · Sonny and Donna’s, Tenant’s Harbor, Maine
≈ 18 × 26" (44 × 66 cm) Species not yet identified 
Range:
