← Bedfellow

Wild Lupine

Lupinus perennis

Wild lupine is the sole larval host of the endangered Karner blue butterfly, sending blue-violet spikes over sandy oak savannas and pine barrens. A keystone of sandy-soil restoration.

Family

Fabaceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

1–2.5 ft

Spacing

0.5–1 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade

Soil moisture

dry, moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

April, May, June, July

Bloom colors

blue, purple

Wildlife value

butterflies, hummingbirds, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~35 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

border, naturalizing

Native states

AL, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV