Wild Blue Lupine
Lupinus perennis
A stunning prairie native producing tall spikes of deep blue pea-like flowers that create dramatic vertical accents in wildflower gardens. This nitrogen-fixing legume improves soil while attracting bees and serving as the sole host plant for the endangered Karner Blue butterfly. The distinctive palmate leaves and showy flower spikes make it a standout in naturalized plantings and cottage gardens.
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
3–8
USDA hardiness
Height
12-30 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Wild Blue Lupine in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 native-wildflower →Zone Map
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Wild Blue Lupine · Zones 3–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Very Dry. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Root Cutting, Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The pea pods are hairy and about 2 inches long. They turn black at maturity and have 2-7 seeds that can be expelled several feet when the pod splits.
Color: Black, Green. Type: Legume. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
History & Origin
Origin: Eastern and Central USA
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Poor Soil
- +Attracts: Attractive Flowers, Attracts Pollinators, Wildlife Food Source, Wildlife Larval Host
- +Wildlife value: Attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Host plant for Karner Blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa sub. samuelis) and Frosted Elfin butterfly (Callophrys irus). Small mammals and birds will eat the seeds.
- +Low maintenance
Considerations
- -Toxic (Seeds): Low severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Little Bluestem Grass
Provides structural support and creates natural prairie ecosystem conditions
Wild Bergamot
Attracts beneficial pollinators and shares similar soil and water requirements
Purple Coneflower
Complements bloom time and attracts butterflies, especially beneficial for lupine-dependent species
Black-Eyed Susan
Provides extended bloom season and attracts diverse beneficial insects
Wild Columbine
Thrives in similar acidic soil conditions and attracts complementary pollinators
Native Fescue
Provides ground cover and erosion control while allowing lupine to establish
Wild Ginger
Serves as living mulch and thrives in the partial shade lupine can provide
Bracken Fern
Creates acidic soil conditions that lupine prefers through leaf decomposition
Keep Apart
Crown Vetch
Aggressively spreads and competes for nitrogen despite both being legumes
Kentucky Bluegrass
Forms dense turf that prevents lupine seed germination and establishment
Autumn Olive
Invasive shrub that shades out lupine and alters soil nitrogen levels
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good disease resistance, sensitive to root disturbance
Common Pests
Aphids, lupine weevil
Diseases
Root rot, anthracnose