Silky Lupine
Lupinus sericeus
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Unknown author Unknown author
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Lupinus
- Species:
- Lupinus sericeus
- USDA Symbol:
- LUSE4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 80 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- blue, purple, violet
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
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)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Reported Fauna Sightings
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from deep taproot following fire; often increases in abundance in post-fire environments.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny locations
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; cold stratification beneficial but not always required.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in hot water for a brief period, then transferred to cold water to cool overnight. Seeds are wrapped in moist paper towels and placed under refrigeration at 37.4°F for a 30 day stratification. Imbibed seeds should be inoculated with Rhizobium specific to Lupinus prior to sowing.
Establishment: Scarification method varies between protocols, with some suggesting hot water scarification and others recommending mechanical scarification. The seeds are brittle and can be easily damaged by mechanical scarifiers. Germination times also vary, with some protocols suggesting germination begins in 4 days, while others suggest it begins in 5 days. Multiple collection trips may be required as the species does not ripen uniformly.
Source: npn.rngr.net