Lupinus excubitus

Common Names

Grape Soda Lupine, Inyo Bush Lupine

Summary

Grape soda lupine is a native desert shrub of the southwestern United States, especially California, and northwestern Mexico, occurring in desert slopes and washes at elevations of about 700–2700 m. It grows as a shrub 0.5–2 m tall and about 0.5–1.5 m wide, with gray-silver evergreen foliage and palmate leaves of 7–10 narrow leaflets. The tall raceme bears violet to lavender flowers with a bright yellow banner, and a grape-soda fragrance accompanies the bloom.

It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, tolerates sandy or loam soils, and is drought-tolerant once established with occasional watering; it does not thrive in heavy clay. Hardiness ranges to USDA zones 7–10. Widely used in desert and native plantings, it attracts bees and butterflies, is evergreen, may reseed, and can be managed by removing unwanted seedlings; its compact form and fragrant blooms suit drought-tolerant landscapes and container or bed plantings.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1 ft 8 in - 6 ft 7 in

Spread

3-4 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil, sandy to loamy.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

5.50-7.30

Bloom Color

Purple to lavender, with occasional white variants and yellow spots

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Silvery gray-green foliage

Fall Foliage Color

Pale Green, Silvery White

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and butterflies