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Herbaceous Perennial

Lupinus lepidus

Pacific lupin

A perennial with hairy, grey-green leaflets up to 4cm long. Upright spikes of pea-like flowers with petal colours ranging from white to dark blue and purple are borne from late spring into summer

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets if eaten (dogs, cats, rabbits, tortoises) - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Lupinus can be annuals, perennials or shrubs, with palmate leaves and showy terminal racemes of pea-like flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: W North America

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a poor, well drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Prairie planting
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead to prolong flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and lupin aphid

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, rots, a leaf spot and a virus

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