Lupinus leucophyllus subsp. leucophyllus

Common Names

Velvet Lupine, Lupine, Woolly-Leaf Lupine, White-Leaved Lupine

Summary

Velvet lupine is native to western North America, including British Columbia and western U.S., and is an erect perennial herb with branched, white-woolly stems reaching 30–70 cm tall. Leaves are cauline with 7–11 palmately divided leaflets; dense racemes 5–25 cm long carry lavender to purple pea‑like flowers, with a pubescent banner on the back. The plant occurs in sagebrush steppe, grasslands, valleys and montane habitats and is notable for its woolly texture and tall, branching form.

For cultivation, velvet lupine prefers full sun and moderate water in well‑drained soil and propagates by seed, with fresh seeds requiring no pretreatment and stored seeds scarified or hot-water pretreated. It is poisonous to grazing livestock due to lupinine and anagyrine alkaloids but provides nectar for bees and supports caterpillars and butterflies, making it a suitable choice for pollinator habitats and native plant landscapes in western North America.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-3 feet

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Rocky soil

Bloom Color

Lavender to purple (yellowish), pale blue, purple, white or lavender

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

White

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and butterflies