How To Grow Lupins

Lupines, those captivating beauties, are bound to steal your heart once you witness their vibrant charm. Prepare to be enchanted by the striking hues of their densely packed floral spikes, each bloom a masterpiece of nature’s artistry. But the magic doesn’t end there – the palmate foliage adds an exquisite textural element, gracing your garden with mesmerizing form and allure.

How To Grow Lupins

These resilient wonders are a gardener’s delight, offering deer resistance and effortless maintenance, making them the perfect addition to a rustic meadowscape or a whimsical cottage-style oasis. Lupines beckon a flurry of pollinators, their multi-hued and bicolored blossoms serving as an irresistible invitation to bees and butterflies alike, transforming your garden into a buzzing sanctuary.

But their allure extends beyond their visual splendor. As members of the legume family, lupines possess a remarkable ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching its health and vitality. By strategically planting these nitrogen-fixing marvels, you can unlock the secrets of enhanced soil fertility, nurturing a thriving and bountiful garden ecosystem.

Lupine’s Cyclical Journey

Lupines, those vibrant wildflowers that paint landscapes with their vivid hues, follow nature’s rhythmic cadence. Among them, the annuals like the Texas Bluebonnet and Arroyo Lupine waltz through a single season, bursting into bloom and leaving behind a trail of seeds to perpetuate their legacy. In temperate climes where winter’s chill is but a whisper, these annuals may reseed themselves, continuing their colorful cycle. However, in regions where frost reigns supreme, it’s best to lend a helping hand and sow fresh seeds each year, ensuring their return to grace the earth with their radiant presence.

But the lupine family also boasts perennial members, resilient souls that defy the constraints of a single growing season. The Perennial Lupine and Russell Lupine, with their deep-rooted tenacity, emerge year after year, unfurling their petals in a cyclical symphony. These steadfast bloomers, anchored in the soil, are living emblems of nature’s perpetual renewal, reminding us that life’s cycles are an intricate tapestry woven with beauty and perseverance.

A Planting Guide

Lupines thrive in sun-kissed spots with well-draining soil. As legumes, they enrich the earth with fertility over time. Full sun is their beloved companion, though partial shade is tolerated with slightly fewer blooms.

These vibrant beauties crave soils that are well-drained above all else. They prefer a touch of acidity and shun alkaline or waterlogged conditions. The Russell hybrids, however, are more forgiving of moist environments than their kin.

When sowing seeds, scatter them generously at a rate of one pound per 1000 square feet. For mature plants, space the larger varieties 2-3 feet apart and the smaller ones 12-18 inches apart.

Lupines are deep-rooted and prefer to remain in one place, spreading their magic through reseeding. Their offspring may not mirror their parents’ hues, reverting to nature’s palette of blue-violet and white.

One crucial note: Lupines come in both annual and perennial forms. While seeds can yield either variety, potted plants are typically the perennial cultivars, returning year after year to grace your garden with their presence.

Lupine Planting Tips: Seeds vs. Plants

Here’s a quick guide to bringing vibrant lupines to your garden!

Planting Established Lupines:

• Welcome Home: When your lupines arrive in spring, plant them right away! Dig a hole and mix in some organic matter and grit to help water drain well.
• Mulch Magic: Add mulch around your lupines, but keep it away from the base of the plant to avoid rot.
• Watering Wisdom: Give your new lupines a good soaking to help them settle in.

Growing Lupins From Seed:

• Tough Shells: Lupine seeds have a hard outer shell. To help them sprout, soak them in water for 1-2 days or gently rub them with sandpaper.
• Planting Time: You can plant lupine seeds in early spring, but they might do better planted in late spring. This allows them to overwinter and bloom the following spring.
• Seeding Success: Push the seeds firmly into the soil to ensure good contact. Water them well, and keep the soil slightly moist (especially in dry weather) until sprouts appear in about 10 days.

Lupine Love Throughout the Season

Lupines are stunning spring bloomers, but keeping them happy all year takes a little know-how. Here’s a guide to ensure your lupines thrive:

Spring Beauties:

• Sunshine and Coolness: These colorful flowers prefer cool weather and sunshine. They’re not fans of high heat or humidity, so keep that in mind for your climate.
• Shape and Size: Lupines grow in a round shape and can reach anywhere from 1 foot to 4 feet tall, depending on the variety. Their flowers look like pea blossoms, packed together on tall spikes.

Standing Tall:

• Staking Support (Optional): Most lupines stand strong on their own. However, if you grow tall Russell lupines and live in a windy area, staking their flower spikes is a good idea for extra support.

Watering Wisely:

• Deep Roots, Deep Drinks: When young, lupines need consistent watering to help their roots grow deep. Let the soil dry out a bit between waterings.
• Established and Drought-Tolerant: Once mature, lupines only need water during dry spells or extended hot periods.

Growing Lupins in Pots: A Container Gardener’s Guide

Lupins are stunning spring bloomers, and you can enjoy them even with limited space! Here’s your guide to growing vibrant lupins in pots:

Choosing the Right Pot:

• Deep Rooted: Lupins have deep taproots, so choose a deep pot (at least 12 inches) for healthy root development.
• Drainage Matters: Ensure your pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, which lupins dislike.

Planting Time and Care:

• Spring is Best: Plant lupins in pots during early spring for optimal growth.
• Watering Wisely: Water regularly, especially during hot weather, but allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
• Sunshine and Soil: Place your lupin pot in a sunny location and use a well-draining potting mix.

Collecting Lupin Seeds: Saving the Beauty

Want to extend your lupin enjoyment? Here’s how to collect and save seeds for future plantings:

Waiting for Maturity:

• Let the Pods Dry: Allow lupin flower spikes to dry completely and turn brown before harvesting seeds.
• Gently Does It: Once dry, carefully remove the seed pods from the spikes.

Storing for Success:

• Dry and Cool: Store your lupin seeds in a cool, dry place for future planting.

What to Do with Lupin Seeds: Planting Options Await

So you’ve collected lupin seeds – now what? Here are your planting options:

Sowing Seeds Indoors (Optional):

• Early Start: For a head start, sow lupin seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost.

Planting Seeds Directly Outdoors:

• Fall or Spring: Direct sow lupin seeds in the fall (in mild climates) or early spring for late spring/summer blooms.

Can I Plant Lupin Seeds Straight into the Ground?

Wondering if you can skip the pots and plant lupin seeds directly in your garden? The answer depends on your climate:

• Ideal Conditions: If you have well-drained soil and cool spring weather, you can plant lupin seeds directly in the ground in early spring.
• Not-So-Ideal Conditions: In hot, humid climates or areas with poorly drained soil, planting in pots might be a better option for successful lupin growth.

Lupine Buddies: Blooming Beauties Together

Lupines love company! Here are some stunning plants to pair with your lupines for a vibrant garden display:

Wildflower Friends:

• Native Delights: California Poppies, Indian Paintbrush, and Daisies – all native wildflowers – create a gorgeous spring meadow when planted with lupines.

Springtime Spectacle:

• Tulips & Lupines: Plant tulip bulbs in fall and then sow lupine seeds on top. The lupine foliage will act as a backdrop for the tulips in spring, and then take center stage once the tulips have finished blooming.

Perennial Pals:

• Peonies & Bearded Irises: These perennials bloom in late spring/early summer, making them perfect companions for lupines, creating a colorful show together.

Share Your Lupine Wisdom: Have you grown these captivating wildflowers? Let us know your lupine tales and top tips in the comments below!