luscious lupines 2009

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Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden

Gardening with Native Plants of Western L.A. County Project SOUND - 2009

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Luscious Lupines

C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake

CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve

Madrona Marsh Preserve

February 7 & 10, 2009

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Lupines have long been garden favorites

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The lupines - the genus Lupinus)

Also known as Lupins (Europe) bluebonnets, old maid’s bonnets or wolfbean

Two groups: Old World lupines, (Mediterranean

regions & E. Africa; 12-13 species New World lupines (N. & S. America);

90% of the genus

Place of original origin???

~ 165 species (or possibly more) worldwide

82 species in CA; 14 in western L.A. Co. An additional 6-10 species in nearby

Santa Monica & San Gabriel Mountains

In short, we have a wealth of

native lupines from our area

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Lupines: an interesting genus in the Pea Family

Bloom time: February to July, but usually in spring – often depends on timing of rains

Larger-flowered species usually pollinated by large bees; small flowers may be self-fertilizing (Cleistogamy).

Flower color: white to various shades of blue and reddish-purple, and even a few yellow species

Leaves: palmately compound, with 5 to 9+ leaflets. The number of leaflets on an individual plant can vary.

Pea-like pods with hard seeds

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Flowers are typical of the Pea family (Fabaceae)

Five petals are highly modified: Large banner petal (often with a white or yellow spot) – attract

pollinators Two small wing petals Two (fused) keel petals – cover the male & female organs

Silver Dune Lupine – Lupinus chamissonis http://montana.plant-life.org/families/Fabaceae.htm

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Lupines & pollinators

Plant sex typically must be consummated by a third party (the wind, a hummingbird, or a bumblebee) that transfers pollen from one blossom to another.

To lure pollinators, plants clad themselves in colorful (to the pollinator – UV-colored flowers may appear white to us) flowers with seductive scents.

While the bee is fertilizing the flower, the plant is returning the favor, offering nectar, the insect equivalent of soda pop, and/or life-giving protein in the form of pollen.

Most lupine flowers offer just a bit of nectar, and just for a short time…

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/22/20290/0906

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Lupines & pollinators

Lupine flowers have characteristics to specifically attract large bees: Purple/blue color ‘guiding signs’ Heavy-duty landing pad

Bumblebee blossoms often have some form of physical barrier that only the bulky insect can surmount.

In Lupines (and other Peas), the nectaries, along with the sexual organs, are enclosed in the fused keel petals.

When a bumblebee lands on the keel, its weight forces the keel petals to pop open, exposing the flower's private parts (and the nectar).

Bumblebees ‘pump out’ the pollen

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Lupine flowers are ‘color-coded for

freshness’ The ‘banner spot’ on lupine flowers helps to guide the bumblebee to the proper landing spot; bees can see the contrasting colors

Lupines only make a small amount of nectar for the pollinator. To advertise that the flower is un-pollinated and has nectar, the banner petal or banner spot is bright white or yellow.

After the flower is pollinated, the banner petal turns reddish-purple - a cue to pollinators that no more nectar is being produced by that flower

Bees (and even we) cannot discriminate well between blue-violet and magenta (bees can’t see red)

.

https://www.hometownstation.com/local-news/scv-outdoor-report-2008-

04-17-13-01-2.html

Grape-soda Lupine

This color change all involves a single pigment type – the anthocyanins

http://www.spenceville.org/plant/Wildflowers.htm

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Other bumblebee plants Trees/shrubs

California lilac (Ceanothus spp) Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) Dogwood (Cornus glabrata) Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos

species) Willows (Salix species) Elderberry (Sambucus)

Wildflowers (perennials & Annuals) Columbines (Aquilegia species) Lupines (Lupinus species) Milkweeds (Asclepias species) Penstemons (Penstemon species) Phacelias (Phacelia species) Buckwheats (Eriogonum species) Sages (Salvia species) Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus &

Encelia) Goldenrods (Solidago & Euthamia

species)

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But bumblebees aren’t the only pollinators

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Yellow Tree Lupine - Lupinus arboreus

© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College

CA coast from Ventura north;

Aggressive re-seeder – don’t plant near any native species

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‘Lupinus propinquus’ – Local form of Lupinus arboreus

Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences

Local endemic in Marin Co, right near shore;

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If you really want a tree lupine, perhaps your should wait….for ‘L. payneii’ Shrub 4-8 ft. high from a trunk-

like base, to 8 inches in diameter

Flowers very fragrant, varying from white through lilac, lavender, purple

Canyons of the Tapo Ranch, Santa Susana, May, 1918, Theodore Payne

‘This plant has been under observation by Mr. Payne for some years. It grows on hillsides of a reddish clay with occasional outcroppings of gravel. Those with long lavender blooms are quite like a Wisteria in appearance and are altogether the most showy of all our southern lupines.’

This plant has been grouped with L. longifolius – but Theodore Payne (and others) suggested this was a separate species

The Theodore Payne Foundation

recently discovered some old seeds

of ‘L. payneii’

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Our local perennial lupines are sub-shrubs

Moderate sized : 2-4 ft tall & wide

Have a woody root/base

Branches are succulent, at least at their outer ends

Local species: L. longifolius L. chamissonis L. albifrons L. excubitus var. halii L. formosus

Silver Bush Lupine – Lupinus albifrons

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Our local shrub lupines are very water-wise

Most are adapted for – and do best in – well-drained soils; some even thrive in sand

Most do best – and live longer – if given only modest amounts of summer water (Zone 1-2 or 2)

A very wet winter (or over-watering) can lead to the demise of shrub lupines – in all but the best-drained soils

Most will be somewhat summer dormant

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Longleaf Bush Lupine - Lupinus longifolius

© 2005 Michael W. Tuma

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Longleaf Bush Lupine - Lupinus longifolius

Formerly Lupinus chamissonis var. longifolius

Southwestern CA from Santa Barbara to Baja

Coastal sage scrub, chaparral and oak woodland

Formerly frequent in the foothills and on bluffs along the seashore in Los Angeles, Orange & San Diego counties

Longifolius = long-leaved

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3691,4023,4099

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Garden conditions

Soils: Texture: well-drained is a must (as for

most local bush lupines) pH: any local is fine

Light: full sun (coastal) to part shade

Water: Young plants: weekly (as needed) until

established Winter: moist soils; monitor & supplement in

very dry years Summer:

Quite drought-tolerant; can get by with no water in part-shade

Will take infrequent (1-2 x per month) if soils are well-drained

Fertilizer: None needed & use will likely decrease

lifespan (true for all the bush lupines)

http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/bushlupine.html

Lupines don’t like to be moved –

protect their roots

Protect young plants from predation

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Dune Lupine – Lupinus chamissonis

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Dune Lupine – Lupinus chamissonis


http://wiki.zum.de/Adelbert_von_Chamisso

Immediate CA coast from L.A. Co. to Marin Co.

chamissonis: after Adelbert von Chamisso (1781-1838)

Born Louis Charles Adélaïde de Chamissot at the château of Boncourt in Champagne, France

Became a German botanist who botanized with J.F. Eschscholtz in the San Francisco Bay region in 1816 – he named the CA Poppy after Eschscholtz

During his time in California, Chamisso studied a number of native plant and animal species; his inventory is considered a valuable ecological record to this day.

Was also a poet & writer

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Dune Lupine

Always found quite near the coast; on dunes, bluffs, ocean strand

Pretty much always on

rather sandy soils Gets some water from

ocean fog Subjected to maritime

conditions: wind, salt-spray

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/2407184634/in/set-72157604496267203/

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Lupine leaves –

unusual & attractive

Why palmate shape?

?? to funnel water to base of plant?

Why often silvery/velvety?

?? Protection from insects

?? Protection from sunlight

?? To collect moisture

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93523004@N00/2472655139/

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Dune Lupine – flowers

that seem to glow

Blooms: Early spring; usually Feb-Apr

in S. Bay

Depends on winter rains

Flowers: Silvery violet, with a hint of

pink; white/yellow spot

Relatively large for local lupines

Arranged along flowering branches somewhat above foliage – not very long

Vegetative reproduction: ??

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Plant Requirements Soils: Texture: very well-drained; sandy

is best

pH: any local

Light: full sun; true of most of the local lupines except those from mountain forests

Water: Winter: needs adequate winter

rain, but will not tolerate flooding

Summer: best with very little summer along immediate coast (but will be drought deciduous); can give occasional water (Zone 1-2)

Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

Other: looks best if pruned back hard in winter

© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College

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Dune Lupine is perfect for

the coastal garden

As an attractive accent plant in coastal gardens

Nice addition to a dry silvery garden

In a garden featuring coast prairie or coastal strand palettes

Try with it’s natural coastal partners: Baccharis pilularis, Ericameria ericoides, Artemisia californica, Croton californicus, Camissonia cheiranthifolia, Agrostis pallens

http://anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=1985&account=none

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Silver Bush Lupine – Lupinus albifrons

http://www.goingnativegardentour.org/pressroom/LupinusAlbifrons.jpg

© Project SOUND http://norenes5percent.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_archive.html

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2673277265_678df36ea6.jpg

Silvery Dune Lupine makes a

nice mid-size shrub

Nice as a smaller foundation plant

Floral fragrance – plant where you can enjoy

Looks great with either yellow or pink-flowering native plants

Quite hardy – fine for parking strips, roadways

Nice addition to rock garden

Wonderful for the ‘evening garden’ with its silvery foliage

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Grape Soda Lupine – Lupinus excubitus var. hallii

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/lupinus-excubitus

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/lupinosis

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Grape Soda Lupine – Lupinus excubitus var. hallii

Fairly limited range: Catalina Island, Palos Verdes, Santa Monica Mtns, San Gabriels and into Baja

Harvey Monroe Hall (1874-1932) Author (1902) of A Botanical

Survey of San Jacinto Mountain

A collector of plants in the Mt. Pinos region in 1905 and on Santa Cruz Island in 1908.

Wrote a Flora of Yosemite (1912)

In charge of the University of California Herbarium at Berkeley (1902- ).

After a trip to Europe in 1929 to study natural reserves, he proposed the creation of "Natural Areas," and specifically the White Mountains and Harvey Monroe Hall research areas near Yosemite National Park

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3691,4023,4065,4068

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Grape Soda Lupine in local foothills

Gravelly and sandy places

Chaparral & Sagebrush scrub to 4500’

Often on banks & hillsides

http://www.timetotrack.com/jay/socal/lupinex2.htm

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Grape Soda Lupine: sometimes silvery

Size: a bit smaller than other local bush lupines 2-3 ft tall

2-3 ft wide

Growth form: Typical sub-shrub local lupine

Mounded to slightly sprawling

Foliage: Mostly quite low/basal

Evergreen; silvery green, with velvety hairs

Quite attractive

Roots: like all lupines, has a taproot that resents disturbance


http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/lupinosis

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Local lupines – not always

so silvery

Silvery plants are often larger and greener with more water & shade

http://www.coestatepark.com/lupinus_albifrons_gp.htm http://www.csuchico.edu/bccer/Ecosystem/FloraFauna/pics/Flora/Lupinus_albifrons.JPG

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Grape Soda Lupine has lovely flowers

Blooms: Mid/late spring at higher

elevations

Probably Mar-May in western L.A. Co.

Flowers: Similar in color & size to

Dune Lupine

Range from silvery violet to light magenta-violet

Scented – reminiscent of grape soda

Attract bees, butterflies, even moths & humans!


http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/imagelarge.php?ImageNumber=2583&TaxonID=6295&SourcePage=taxon

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Lupines are master catapultists

In general, Mother Nature likes to spread genes around – locate genetically similar offspring away from parent plant

This also keeps the new plants from competing for light, water & nutrients with the parent plant

Lupines literally ‘fling’ their dried seeds away from the parent plant: Drying pods under mechanical

stress When they reach a certain dryness

they fail - dramatically

The large seeds are then further carried by water or by small animals that may cache them

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Collecting lupine seeds – several approaches

The nylon stocking technique

The paper bag technique

http://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/toxic/lupine/lupine.htm

http://www.kidsgardening.com/growingideas/PROJECTS/aug04/pg1.html

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Use Grape Soda Lupine in the scented garden

Great as an accent plant; foliage, flower & scented accent

Does well on hills, slopes, other ‘difficult’ areas

Great habitat plant; bees, blue butterflies, seed-eating ground birds like doves

http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/hallsbushlupine.html

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What if I have a shady yard?

http://www.downeasthost.com/vacationrental/lupine.jpg

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Lupines from the local mountains and

from the North can take more water

Native habitat: often more shady

Annual precipitation: for some, more like garden conditions

Examples (from local mountains):

Broad-leaf Lupine – Lupinus latifolius

Burke’s (Meadow/ Big-leaf) Lupine Lupinus polyphyllus var. burkei

Sickle-keeled Lupine - Lupinus albicaulis

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* Broad-leaf Lupine – Lupinus latifolius

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* Broad-leaf Lupine – Lupinus latifolius

Foothills of the Sierras, Coastal and Transverse Ranges

Locally: Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Santa Monica Mtns, San Gabriels

Moist places in woods, shady to open areas, many plant communities below 7500'

ssp. latifolius

ssp. parishii


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Lupinus_latifolius_5799.JPG

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ssp. parishii

© 2004 Charles E. Jones

In Santa Monica

Mtns

http://www.timetotrack.com/jay/lupinel.htm

parishii: after brothers Samuel Bonsall Parish (1838-1928) and William Fletcher Parish (1840-1918), both botanical collectors who lived on a ranch in San Bernardino, California

Made extensive exploring trips through the mountains and deserts.

Samuel was the more devoted of the two and corresponded with and was on very familiar terms with many of the leading botanists of his day.

William served in the Civil War as a sergeant and later sergeant-major. He is registered at San Bernardino up to 1890, and at Long Beach in 1892. By 1906 he was living at Redondo, and later in Hermosa Beach."

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Flowers are quite showy

Blooms: Apr-July in local foothills

Probably Mar-May at lower elevations

Flowers:

fragrant pinkish blue flowers

2-3 foot long spikes

Ssp. parishii particularly showy!

Vegetative reproduction:

deep, lateral root system

can spread vegetatively from root sprouts, even from

pieces of root

http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/imagelarge.php?ImageNumber=2586&TaxonID=6295&SourcePage=taxon&

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Broadleaf Lupine may fill your garden needs

Soils: Texture: well-drained, though

less picky than local natives

pH: any local

Light: full sun to light shade – light shade preferable in hot gardens

Water: Winter: good winter water

Summer: can take regular water (Zone 2 or 2-3); ssp. parishii can take drier conditions

Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

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Burke’s (Meadow/ Big-leaf) Lupine Lupinus polyphyllus var. burkei

Wet places in the mountains from San Gabriels, Sierras north

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Sickle-keeled Lupine - Lupinus albicaulis

From N. CA Coast Range and Sierra foothills

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Managing our local shrubby lupines

Protect young plants from snails & slugs

Keep area around the plants weed-free

Don’t mulch right up to the woody base – prevent root fungal disease

Be very vigilant in removing these caterpillars

Remove old flower heads and woody foliage for neatness & to renew

Cut back to the base in late fall to winter.

© Project SOUND

Annual lupines add some magic to the garden

http://gardendjinn.typepad.com/garden/2008/03/index.html

http://www.wallno1.com/r-flowers-14-lupine-and-poppies-tehachapi-mountains-california-29867.htm

Coastal Palette combination

Interior Palette combination

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Soils: Texture: usually any; often do best in well-

drained soils

Usually any local pH

Light: full sun (best) to bright shade

Need bare soil (light) to germinate and grow

Often fire-followers; or managed by Native Californians

Water: Adequate winter/spring water

Best with no water after flowering

Fertilizer: none needed; a little probably won’t hurt

© 2001 Steven Thorsted

Growing native annual lupines

is quite easy

http://www.gardengates.info/The%20Local%20Wildflower%20

Page.htm

© Project SOUND © Lee Dittmann

Some of the best small lupines are native to S. CA

http://flickr.com/photos/repetti/59953037/in/set-1295791/

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Miniature Lupine – Lupinus bicolor

http://picasaweb.google.com/greenonfire/SWOregonFlora#5189166267831777570

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Bajada Lupine – Lupinus concinnus ssp. concinnus

Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

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Bajada Lupine – Lupinus concinnus ssp. concinnus

A lupine of SW U.S. and adjoining regions of Mexico

At least two sub-populations - one desert; ?? Are they really subspecies

Open sandy areas to 5000‘ Grasslands/prairie Both CA deserts

Common in disturbed areas, burns

concinnus: neat, well-made, elegant


http://seinet.asu.edu/images/maps/seinet/swdots/Lupinus_concinnus.jpg

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Bajada Lupine – a petite charmer

Size: < 1 ft tall

1-2 ft wide

Growth form: Herbaceous annual

Upright or sprawling

Foliage: Very hairy; velvety texture –

appears silvery

Typical palmate leaves; quite basal, often low to ground

Looks like a desert plant


Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

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Flowers are also petite

Blooms: Early spring; usually Mar.-

Apr. in western L.A. Co.

Flowers: Color: red-purple to light

pink

Small - ~ ¼ inch

Spread on low flowering stalks – may be only as tall as the leaves.

Don’t water after flowering ceases – important for proper seed development


Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database © 2003 Christopher L. Christie

© Project SOUND

* Valley Lupine - Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus

(Lupinus subvexus var. subvexus)


Antelope Valley; W. San Gabriels

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The colors of lupine Lupines come in a select

palette: white, pink, red, blues of many hues, yellow, apricot.

Many have bicolored flowers, usually including white or yellow contrasting with another color.

Why/how these colors?

The pigments: Anthocyanins : appear blue/pink;

change from blue to pink w/ increasing pH (alkalinity)

Carotenoids: Appear yellow/orange In Lupines, only seen if

anthocyanins are lacking

How coloration evolved: co-evolution with pollinators Large bees attracted by blue-

purple flowers Hummingbirds attracted by

red/red-violet/ orange

http://www.visionsofheaven.com/AAngels/newsletter_art/lupine.jpg

http://www.beachwatchers.wsu.edu/ezidweb/shoreplants/Lupinusarboreus.htm

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* Yellow Chick Lupine - Lupinus densiflorus var. aureus

(Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus)

http://www.larnerseeds.com/_pages/wildflower_annual.html

Antelope Valley; San Gabriels; Liebre Mtns

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Mid-size annual lupines look great massed

http://www.resimsite.com/img155.htm http://www.panoramio.com/photo/11104501

© Project SOUND

Why include annual Lupines

in your garden?

Attractive & unique foliage

Showy, decorative flowers; many shades of white, blue, lavender, magenta

Great habitat plants: Nectar: butterflies, native bees &

even hummingbirds

Foliage: Blue Butterfly larval food

Seeds: ground-eaters like doves, quail

Improve soil nutrients (N)

Many are quite easy to grow once you get the seeds to germinate

© 2006 Chris Wagner, SBNF

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LUHI3

© Project SOUND

Lupines: important role in ecosystems

The name Lupinus means "wolf," referring to the untrue notion that this plant robs nutrients from the soil.

In fact, Lupine (along with other species in the Pea family) actually adds useable nitrogen to the soil Mutualistic relationship with

nitrogen-fixing bacteria Bacteria for nodules (‘nitrogen

fixing factories’) on roots Nitrogen is converted to a form

useable by plants – ‘nitrogen fixing’

Leave the roots in the soil after harvesting, to achieve full benefits

The down-side of increased soil N http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/12/07_mutualism.shtml

http://www.laspilitas.com/classes/pictures/lotus_nodules.jpg

© Project SOUND

Truncated Lupine is a small/mid-size lupine

Size:

1-2 ft tall & wide (usually ~ 1 ft)

Growth form: Somewhat conical – kind of like a

pine tree

Foliage: Typical lupine gray-green

Typical lupine leaves – but with trucated leaflets (hence its common name)

Roots: Tap-root; best if seeded in ground

Like all lupines, have symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria

http://www.researchlearningcenter.com/bloom/species/Lupinus_truncatus.htm

© 2003 Michael Charters

© Project SOUND

Truncated Lupine –

lovely flowers

Blooms: usually March-April in S. Bay

Flowers: Sparsely distributed on spike

well-above foliage

Color: violet-purple to magenta; becomes darker after pollination

Fragrant

Pollinated usually by larger bees

Seeds: Relatively large; mottled brown

In hairy pods that break apart explosively, flinging the seeds

Eaten by doves, quail

© 2003 Michael Charters

http://www.researchlearningcenter.com/bloom/species/Lupinus_truncatus.htm

© Project SOUND

Tricks to propagating lupines from seed

Generally, fresh seeds need no pretreatment.

Stored seeds may benefit from scarification or hot water treatment but results vary by species and other conditions – if seeds germinate poorly, try the treatments

Scarify using sandpaper for 5 minutes. Heat water (hot tap water) and soak seeds overnight. Seeds that do not imbibe need to be re-scarified and soaked

As a rule, lupines resent handling, but may be started in flats if shifted while still small and transplanted with no delay. Seeds may also be planted in fiber pots and the plants can be set intact into the beds, after first removing the bottom section of the pot

http://www.hazmac.biz/060828/060828LupinusExcubitusHallii2.html

© Project SOUND

Consider direct seeding – even for local

shrub lupines

In San Francisco, the National Park Service has found that hand broadcasting and raking in Lupinus spp. seeds worked better than planting nursery propagated seedlings—in fact, their transplants had only 10% survival.

To plant in situ, seeds should be broadcast where wanted (bare ground), raked in, and covered lightly with twiggy branches

http://www.sciencebuff.org/newsletter_1_october_2008.php

© Project SOUND

Stinging Lupine is another moderate-size local lupine

Size:

1-4 ft tall (including flowering stalk)

1-2 ft wide

Growth form: basal rosette of foliage (mounded).

Foliage:

Typical blue-green lupine color

Leaves are typical for Lupine, but slightly larger, more rounded & showy

© 2005 Michelle Cloud-Hughes

© Project SOUND

Because they are vulnerable on bare slopes,

Stinging Lupines need protection from predation

© 2002 Hartmut Wisch

© Project SOUND

Warfare in the garden: Lupine defenses

Lupines have succulent young leaves. They protect themselves with:

Physical barriers: hairs

Chemical warfare:

‘stinging’ hairs; release chemicals that induce allergic skin rash

Toxic substances in their foliage

Toxic seeds (at least to mammals)

http://www.smmtc.org/plant_of_the_month_200604_Lupine.htm

© Project SOUND

What is lupine

toxicity?

Many lupines (and others in the pea family) produce levels of alkaloids (bitter tasting compounds) that make the seed unpalatable and sometimes toxic.

Eating mature/dried plants & pods can cause several syndromes (the green plants are usually safe): (1) convulsions after exercise due to

alkaloids in the seeds; (2) liver damage caused by fungal toxins

(phomopsins) produced by Phomopsis spp. growing in the seeds, which also causes intermittent photosensitization (called also lupinosis);

(3) possibly precipitation of acute attacks of copper poisoning;

(4) skeletal myopathy; and (5) pregnancy toxemia and acetonemia in

cows.

In animals, toxicity occurs when animals consume large amounts of pods in a brief period

http://www.ars.usda.gov/pandp/people/people.ht

m?personid=4284

So, never eat lupine seeds;

if kids/animals may be

tempted to eat pods/seeds,

then remove mature pods

© Project SOUND

Coulter’s Lupine – Lupinus sparsiflorus ssp. sparsiflorus

The species: southwestern U.S. & bordering regions of Mexico, Baja

ssp. sparsiflorus: Western CA & Baja

Locally: Gardena Plain (Hawthorne), PV, Santa Monica & San Gabriel Mtns, San Clemente Island

ssp. sparsiflorus

http://seinet.asu.edu/seinet/symbiota/taxa/taxaprofile.php?taxon=Lupinus%20sparsiflorus

http://seinet.asu.edu/images/maps/seinet/swdots/Lupinus_sparsiflorus.jpg

© Project SOUND

You’ve probably seen this lupine in the

desert or on burn areas

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/sagefls2.htm

© Project SOUND

Coulter’s Lupine: upright form gives a competitive advantage?

Size: 2-3 ft tall

2-3 ft wide

Growth form: Herbaceous annual wildflower

Upright growth

Foliage: Leaves often blue-green

Leaflets often folded (like a taco shell)

Flowers: held rather high above foliage - and above other annuals

Note: foliage, seeds and pods are particularly toxic

http://www.delange.org/LupineCoulters/LupineCoulters.htm

© Project SOUND

Annual lupines: sun & winter water is the trick

Soils: Texture: most, but do best in well-

drained sandy or rocky soils

pH: any local

Light: full sun

Water: Winter: needs adequate water for

good growth; supplement if needed

Summer: none after pods develop

Fertilizer: none; like poor soils

http://www.researchlearningcenter.org/bloom/species/Lupinus_sparsiflorus.htm

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Succulent Lupine – Lupinus succulentis

Other names: Arroyo Lupine; Hollow-leaf Lupine

Grows in open and disturbed areas, grassy slopes < 2500 ft

Roots: 3 ft; nitrogen-fixing

Flowers: mostly blue, but may be pinkish or white

Pollinators: bees

Food source for: hummingbirds, larva of various butterflies, bees

Self-sows easily if seed falls on bare ground; can remain in ground for years waiting for good winter rains

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Lupinus_succulentus

© Project SOUND

Garden uses for mid-

size annual lupines

For their wonderful blue-violet color Unusual color for sun-lovers; most good

blues are in shade-loving native annuals Combine with yellow-flowered annuals

for an eye-popping show

In gardens featuring Coastal Prairie, Coastal Shrubland, CSS and desert plant palettes

For dune/slope stabilization

Combine with their usual partners: annual wildflowers (CA poppy; Owls Clover), bulb/corms and native grasses

Look absolutely fabulous massed

And great candidates for pots

http://gardendjinn.typepad.com/garden/page/2/

http://www.timetotrack.com/jay/lupines2.htm

Massing plants increases habitat value

http://gardendjinn.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/21/poppies_with_lupine_2008_2.jpg

© Project SOUND

Summer Lupine – Lupinus formosus

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/lupinus-formosus

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Lupinus_latifolius_5799.JPG

© Project SOUND

Summer Lupine – Lupinus formosus

Western U.S. from OR to Baja

Most of CA west of Sierras

Locally: Griffith Park, ?Palos Verdes, San Clemente Isl, foothills of Santa Monica & San Gabriel Mtns

Usually in dry clay soils, grasslands, open areas under pines, oaks & chaparral shrubs, generally in valleys


© Project SOUND

Summer Lupine: a rare summer-blooming

perennial lupine Size:

2-3 ft tall

2-3 ft wide

Growth form: Herbaceous perennial

Usually upright growth; most foliage quite low (< 1 ft.)

Foliage: Leaves relatively large for

lupine; leaflets broad

Densely hairy; silvery or gray-green

Roots: spreads via underground rhizomes

http://www.coestatepark.com/lupinus_formosus_gp.htm

© Project SOUND

Welcome blooms in

late spring/summer

Blooms: Mid/late spring or later

Usually May-July in S. CA

Flowers: Medium size: ~ ½ inch

Often pale lavender or pink-lavender

Very fragrant; nice addition to summer garden

Vegetative reproduction: yes

© 2008 Toni Corelli

© Project SOUND

Summer Lupine is well suited to water-

wise summer gardens…

Soils: Texture:

Just about any;

Well-drained is best, but takes anything from sandy to clay

pH: any local

Light: full sun

Water: Young plants: good water first year

Winter: needs adequate; supplement if needed – take care not to over water in clay soils

Summer: best with none/little (Zone 1 or 1-2 best; 2 in sandy soils); withhold after flowering

http://www.coestatepark.com/lupinus_formosus_gp.htm

luscious lupines 2009

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