Elegant Lupine
Lupinus elegans
- Native to:
- Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico
Dayan Romero,Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection.; Wm. C. Beckert (Firm),Internet Archive Book Images (www.flickr.com),Internet Archive Book Images (www.flickr.com),Patrick Alexander (www.flickr.com) from Las Cruces, NM,Internet Archive Book Images (www.flickr.com),Grapaldi, Francisco Mario, approximately 1464-1515,Columbia Gardens (Cedarburg, Wis.),Washington, D.C. : John Saul,Griswold Seed Co,A.L. Don & Co,Fisher Flower Farm
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Lupinus
- Species:
- Lupinus elegans
- USDA Symbol:
- LUEL4
Growth Characteristics
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, blue, pink, white
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown after fire. Seeds may benefit from heat exposure breaking dormancy.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or rocky soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to mountainous regions, prefers open, sunny areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 14–30 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat improves germination. Soak in warm water 24 hours or nick seed coat before cold stratification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI