You can also sow seeds in the spring 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, but your plants will bloom later in the summer. If planting lupine from seed, direct sow in the garden in late fall or early winter for blooms the following spring. If your soil is too alkaline, you can lower the pH by adding a soil acidifier (sulfur). Lupines also like slightly acidic conditions. In denser clay soils, loosen the soil before planting by working in compost. Lupines love loose, sandy soil because it doesn’t impede the growth of their deep tap roots. Be careful when buying nursery-grown plants, as lupines have fast-growing taproots that can become constrained if the plants are kept in their containers too long. Lupines can be started from seed, dormant bare-root plants, or potted plants, but seeds are easier to find and offer the broadest selection of cultivars. Mini Gallery™ Blue Bicolor Lupine ( Lupinus polyphyllus). Often wither or are short-lived in areas with hot, humid summers.Difficult if not impossible to transplant because of deep taproots that resent being disturbed once established.All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested.Like other members of the pea family, lupine can improve soil fertility by fixing nitrogen in the air and making it usable by other plants.Easy to grow from seed and will readily self-sow, which often compensates for their short lifespan.Attracts beneficial pollinators to the garden, including bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.After the flowers fade, they are replaced by flat pea-shaped seedpods. The blossoms open from the bottom up and often display more than one color on the same plant, in hues ranging from soft pastels to deep reds and violet blues. Late spring to early or midsummer Length of bloom:Ī member of the pea family, lupine flowers are similar to those of pea blossoms but are packed tightly together on conical spikes that stand tall and erect above palmate foliage. Plant lupine in full sun in areas with cool summers, but give them filtered sunlight or afternoon shade in warmer or Southern climates. Typically 4-8 best treated as annuals in Zone 7 and above Exposure: On this page: Basics | Types | Planting | Care | Pictures | Design Ideas “Not only do lupines thrive, but they self-sow with a vengeance.” There are also many varieties that can be grown as annuals outside of their comfort zone. “Just being able to grow lupines would be reason enough to move to a cool-summer climate,” says Larry Hodgson, author of Perennials for Every Purpose. In addition to their irresistible beauty, lupines are also valued for their ability to flourish in challenging environments, including sandy nutrient-poor soils, high elevations, and areas with cool summers. The tall, lush spires of vividly colored flowers are like floral traffic cones, compelling you to slow down and take notice. If you’re looking for a showy summer-flowering perennial that will stand out from the crowd, lupine is a sure front-runner. At 10-to-12-inches tall, it spreads to make a good ground cover, container plant, or front-of-the-border plant in Zones 7 to 9.West Country™ 'Masterpiece' ( Lupinus polyphyllus). 'Jazz Hands Mini': A variety with deep purple leaves and magenta flowers.'Zhuzhou Fuchsia': Deep pink flowers held against blackish-maroon leaves, growing six to eight feet tall in Zones 7 to 9.The flowers are creamy-white, growing four to six feet tall and three to four feet wide in Zones 7 to 10.
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