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Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
PerennialWild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
Tap to flip backGrowing Conditions
Light
Sun – Part Shade
Water
Dry
Soil
Sandy
Size
1-2'
Bloom
Blue-Purple, May–Jul
Why Grow It
Drought Tolerant
Thrives with little water once established
Nitrogen Fixing
Enriches your soil naturally
Caterpillar Host
Feeds caterpillars of native moths & butterflies
Did You Know?
The only host plant for the federally endangered Karner Blue butterfly.
Like other legumes, it fixes nitrogen in the soil, enriching the ground for neighboring plants.
Historically dependent on periodic fire to keep competing vegetation at bay.
Wildlife Value
🦋
Karner Blue Host
Critical and sole food source for the rare Karner Blue butterfly larvae
🐝
Bumble Bee Visited
Bumblebees work the pea-like flowers, tripping the pollination mechanism
Good Companions
🌾 Little Bluestem
🌻 Brown-eyed Susan
🌬 Prairie Smoke
Planting Guide
- Plant in full sun with sandy, well-drained soil — it hates wet feet
- Nick or scarify seeds before planting to improve germination
- Do not fertilize — it makes its own nitrogen and prefers lean soil
Plant Details
Made with ♥ by Lu Li