Lupinus perennis

Common Names

Sundial Lupine, Wild Lupine, Wild Blue Lupine, Lupine

Summary

Wild Lupine, also called Sundial Lupine, is a perennial native to eastern North America. It grows to about 1–2 ft tall with erect stems and palmate leaves of 7–11 leaflets. Dense spikes of blue-violet pea-like flowers rise above the foliage, and seed pods are pubescent and explode when mature, ejecting seeds several feet away; a deep taproot and nitrogen-fixing ability support growth and drought tolerance. Leaves may be heliotropic, rotating toward the sun, and the plant forms showy colonies in sandy, well-drained sites.

It thrives in full sun to partial shade and sandy, well-drained soils; tolerance to poor soils and drought improves once established. Propagation is by seeds—scarify, soak overnight, inoculate with rhizobium, sow in flats, then transplant after 2–3 leaves—or by division. Hardiness is USDA zones 3–8. Uses include serving as a nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and as the sole larval host plant for the federally endangered Karner Blue butterfly, making it a key species for pollinator habitats and restoration projects.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-2 feet

Spread

10-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; can be partial sun or partial shade.

Soil Type

Dry, sandy, well-drained soil with low fertility, pH 6.0–7.0

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.0-7.2, Mildly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Blue to purple

Bloom Time

Spring to early summer.

Foliage Color

Blue-green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Perennial

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, other pollinators, and birds are attracted.