Lupinus trial 2024–2026

Objectives and purpose of the trial

The purpose of this trial is to compare, record and display the merits of new and established Lupinus (lupin) cultivars. Lupins are classic cottage-garden plants, adding height and colour to the borders in early summer. The RHS Trials team will assess a range of lupin border varieties, and recommend plants that show all-round garden worthiness. Those that perform best will be awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Lupins establishing in the Trial Garden at RHS Wisley
Plant portrait of Lupinus ‘Towering Inferno’

Plants and Location

What was planted?

Forty lupin entries are being grown as part of the trial. With a focus on border varieties, the shrubby (tree) lupins are not included in this particular trial. Border varieties produce bold, colourful spikes of pea-like flowers with colours ranging from white to pinks, reds, yellows, blues and purples, and various combinations of these. The RHS Plant Trials team will be taking pictures of the plants as they grow, recording when they start and finish flowering.

Where is it planted?

The lupin border varieties were planted out as young plants into four open-ground trial beds within the Trials Garden at RHS Wisley, Surrey. Here are some considerations for planting out lupins:

  • Lupins need a warm spot in full sun in moist but well drained soil
  • Slugs and snails love the new shoots in spring so watch out for them
  • Also look out for lupin aphids

  • ​Fungal diseases such as lupin anthracnose and powdery mildew can also affect lupins
  • All parts of lupins are poisonous so wear gloves when handling

Lupinus facts

Lupin border plants reach 90cm (3ft) tall, rising above clumps of softly hairy green leaves divided into finger-like leaflets. There are also some more compact varieties such as the Gallery series. These are all hardy perennial plants that die back at the end of each year and grow back the following spring.

Judges and criteria

Judges of the trial

The trial assessment forum comprises 10 invited experts from plant nurseries, garden design and management, garden writers and authors and members of the RHS Herbaceous Expert Group. Some of the forum met to advise on plant health care during 2024 (May, June, July, August and September). During the second and third years, the forum will meet several times throughout the assessment year to assess the plants.

The 2024–2026 Lupinus forum includes: Frances Rasch (Chair and member of RHS Herbaceous Expert Group), Joanna Fortnam (Gardening Editor), Phil Johnson (RHS Herbaceous Expert Group member), Christianne Lim (RHS Herbaceous Expert Group member​), James Oakey (Plant Retail), Philip Oostenbrink (Head Gardener, Walmer Castle), Nick Petters (RHS Curatorial), Graham Rice (Garden Writer), Dawn Smith (Plant Nursery Expert) and Caroline Walter (Garden Designer).

Judging criteria

The following factors are all taken into consideration as part of the judging of the trial:

  • Stem and foliage quality
  • Flower colour and quality
  • Habit, health and vigour

  • Winter hardiness
  • Pest and disease resistance

Plant portrait of Lupinus ‘Beefeater’
Striking lupins in full bloom during trial at RHS Wisley

Cultivation

Planting process

At the start of May 2024, the RHS Curatorial team carefully planted out the young lupin plants into the trials beds within the Trial Garden. Each trial entry consisted of three lupin plants, arranged in neat rows across the beds to ensure consistency. The plants, which arrived in 9cm pots, were spaced 60cm apart, allowing plenty of room to thrive and fill out over the three-year trial period.

The plants were watered to help them establish and during particular dry periods. As the plants were young and needed to establish root and leaf systems some flowers were removed early.

As lupins are poisonous, the team took precautions, wearing gloves during handling to ensure safety while working with these striking, plants.

How we’re managing plant health

It is a known risk that lupins may be affected by various issues such as mildew, lupin aphids and lupin anthracnose, and this proved to be the case so far during the trial. Given this, 2024, the trials first year, is being used as an establishment year to allow the plants to mature and hopefully cope better next year.

To help address these challenges, foliar feed has been applied to the plants. Aphids and badly affected plant parts have been removed where necessary. Due to lupin anthracnose, two trial beds are being replanted in 2025 to improve overall growth and results.

This is likely to be the most difficult trial due to susceptibility to lupin aphid and powdery mildew. However, this is all part of the trial and should help us find the strongest growing cultivars.

Ed Cooper, RHS Trials Team Leader
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Plant portrait of Lupinus ‘Blacksmith’
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Young lupin plants supplied in pots at the beginning of the trial
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The Curatorial team planting out the young lupin plants in May 2024
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Plant portrait of Lupinus ‘Blacksmith’
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Young lupin plants supplied in pots at the beginning of the trial
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The Curatorial team planting out the young lupin plants in May 2024
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How to grow lupins

Explore all the information you need to know to grow and care for lupins in your garden

How to grow lupins
Did you know?

These easy-to-grow sun-lovers also work well in formal borders, gravel gardens and containers.

Suppliers to the trial

List of plants in the trial

View all the lupins on trial at RHS Wisley
  • Lupinus ‘Beefeater’
  • Lupinus ‘Blacksmith’
  • Lupinus ‘Cashmere Cream’
  • Lupinus ‘Desert Sun’
  • Lupinus ‘Gladiator’
  • Lupinus ‘King Canute’
  • Lupinus ‘Magic Lantern’
  • Lupinus ‘Manhattan Lights’
  • Lupinus ‘Masterpiece’
  • Lupinus ‘Melody’
  • Lupinus ‘Persian Slipper’
  • Lupinus ‘Polar Princess’
  • Lupinus ‘Purple Emperor’
  • Lupinus Rachel de Thame (‘Wclradeth’) 
  • Lupinus ‘Red Rum’
  • Lupinus ‘Salmon Star’
  • Lupinus ‘Shirley Anne’
  • Lupinus ‘Tequila Flame’
  • Lupinus Terracotta (‘Wclterr’) 
  • Lupinus ‘Towering Inferno’
  • Lupinus ‘Chandelier’ (Band of Nobles Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘My Castle’ (Band of Nobles Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Noble Maiden’ (Band of Nobles Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘The Chatelaine’ (Band of Nobles Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘The Governor’ (Band of Nobles Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘The Page’ (Band of Nobles Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Legendary Blue Shades’ (Legendary Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Legendary Pink Shades’ (Legendary Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Legendary Yellow Shades’ (Legendary Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Legendary Red Shades’ (Legendary Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Legendary White Shades’ (Legendary Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Legendary Rose Shades’ (Legendary Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Gallery Yellow’ (Gallery Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Gallery Blue’ (Gallery Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Gallery Pink’ (Gallery Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Gallery White’ (Gallery Series) 
  • Lupinus ‘Gallery Red’ (Gallery Series) 
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For more information on our RHS Plant Trials or to access older trial reports, please get in touch with our team via email at [email protected].

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