Q lupinus-albifrons

Silver Bush Lupine – Lupinus albifrons (var. albifrons) (loo-PINE-us AL-bee-frons) Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family) Native to: Coastal and central CA and N. Channel Islands; dry open meadows, prairies, and forest openings in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodlands. Growth characteristics: perennial shrub mature height: 3-5 ft. mature width: 4-5 ft. Mounded shrub with striking silver foliage. Leaves, which are palmate (like a hand) are covered with soft, silvery hairs. Plant has a neat, fine-textured appearance. Drought-deciduous. May be short-lived in the garden setting – but can propagate from seed. Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring, anytime from Mar-June depending on the rains. Flowers are clustered on stalks above the foliage – typical for lupines. Flower color is an iridescent blue to purple. Flowers are sweetly fragrant. Uses in the garden: Makes a wonderful specimen plant for it’s flowers and foliage. Looks particularly nice combined with native grasses, annual wildflowers and yellow-flowered coastal plants such as Dune Wallflower, Coastal CA Poppy, plants in the Sunflower family. Does fine in sunny areas under oaks. Fine fore low maintenance areas along roads, parking strips. Plant where you can enjoy the floral scent and the visits of pollinators. Sensible substitute for: Non-native lupines (e.g. Russell Lupine). Attracts: Excellent Dove habitat: provides cover and seeds for food. Pollinators are large bees, hummingbirds. Larval food plant for Blue butterflies. Requirements: Element Requirement Sun Full sun. Soil Well-drained soils; any local pH. Water Little to no water once established (Zone 1 or 1-2; possibly Zone 2 in sandy soils) Fertilizer None; can kill with fertilizer. Plant roots fix nitrogen. Other Management: Little management required as long as plant is watered correctly. Plants are susceptible to slugs, snails and caterpillars, all of which can kill the plant. Deer, rabbits will eat. Propagation: from seed : hot water soak by cuttings : probably Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 7, 8-11, 13, 16, 19, 28 12/7/10 © Project SOUND

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Transcript of Q lupinus-albifrons

Silver Bush Lupine – Lupinus albifrons (var. albifrons) (loo-PINE-us AL-bee-frons)

Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Native to: Coastal and central CA and N. Channel Islands; dry open meadows, prairies, and forest

openings in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodlands.

Growth characteristics: perennial shrub mature height: 3-5 ft. mature width: 4-5 ft. Mounded shrub with striking silver foliage. Leaves, which are palmate (like a hand) are covered with

soft, silvery hairs. Plant has a neat, fine-textured appearance. Drought-deciduous. May be short-lived in the garden setting – but can propagate from seed.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring, anytime from Mar-June depending on the rains. Flowers are clustered

on stalks above the foliage – typical for lupines. Flower color is an iridescent blue to purple. Flowers are sweetly fragrant.

Uses in the garden: Makes a wonderful specimen plant for it’s flowers and foliage. Looks particularly nice

combined with native grasses, annual wildflowers and yellow-flowered coastal plants such as Dune

Wallflower, Coastal CA Poppy, plants in the Sunflower family. Does fine in sunny areas under oaks. Fine fore low maintenance areas along roads, parking strips. Plant where you can enjoy the floral scent and

the visits of pollinators.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native lupines (e.g. Russell Lupine).

Attracts: Excellent Dove habitat: provides cover and seeds for food. Pollinators are large bees, hummingbirds. Larval food plant for Blue butterflies.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun.

Soil Well-drained soils; any local pH.

Water Little to no water once established (Zone 1 or 1-2; possibly Zone 2 in sandy soils)

Fertilizer None; can kill with fertilizer. Plant roots fix nitrogen.

Other

Management: Little management required as long as plant is watered correctly. Plants are susceptible

to slugs, snails and caterpillars, all of which can kill the plant. Deer, rabbits will eat.

Propagation: from seed: hot water soak by cuttings: probably

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 7, 8-11, 13, 16, 19, 28 12/7/10 © Project SOUND