This lupine is native to our sunny, dry South Salish prairies, and these offered here were propagated from local seeds. This is the largest of our local prairie lupines. Plant it in full sun and soil with good drainage.
Clusters of tidy, fuzzy lupine foliage emerge in mid-spring, with the large flower spikes following in early summer. Each flower stalk is filled with many pea-shaped flowers in purple, dull-white, or yellow. Note: The parent stock on these is purple-blue! The robust foliage is lower than the flower stalks, which can rise up to 2 ft. in height. The overall size off a mature Lupinus albicaulis can spread out over 2 ft. in a rounded/mound form. Although this is ephemeral, this species retains its dried flower stalks through winter, providing a little habitat for beneficial organisms and adding interest to the winter landscape.
Sickle-keeled lupine is an important host for several native butterflies, moths, and other pollinators, and our native hummingbirds also utilize its nectar.
Like other legumes, lupines can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, fertilizing the soil for other plants. This adaptation allows lupines to be tolerant of infertile soils and capable of pioneering change in barren and poor-quality soils. Small mammals will use the plant as shelter and birds will eat the seeds. It is not palatable for browsing by larger mammals.
This lupine is native to our sunny, dry South Salish prairies, and these offered here were propagated from local seeds. This is the largest of our local prairie lupines. Plant it in full sun and soil with good drainage.
Clusters of tidy, fuzzy lupine foliage emerge in mid-spring, with the large flower spikes following in early summer. Each flower stalk is filled with many pea-shaped flowers in purple, dull-white, or yellow. Note: The parent stock on these is purple-blue! The robust foliage is lower than the flower stalks, which can rise up to 2 ft. in height. The overall size off a mature Lupinus albicaulis can spread out over 2 ft. in a rounded/mound form. Although this is ephemeral, this species retains its dried flower stalks through winter, providing a little habitat for beneficial organisms and adding interest to the winter landscape.
Sickle-keeled lupine is an important host for several native butterflies, moths, and other pollinators, and our native hummingbirds also utilize its nectar.
Like other legumes, lupines can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, fertilizing the soil for other plants. This adaptation allows lupines to be tolerant of infertile soils and capable of pioneering change in barren and poor-quality soils. Small mammals will use the plant as shelter and birds will eat the seeds. It is not palatable for browsing by larger mammals.
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