Lupinus micranthus (syn Lupinus polycarpus. Note: some sources, such as iNaturalist and Oregon Flora Project, recently rolled L. micranthus and L. polycarpus under the umbrella of L. bicolor. Our Willamette Valley seed source feels strongly about keeping the species separate to acknowledge their unique differences)
This cute little lupine is a wonderful resource for spring pollinators and butterflies. It is a low grower to just around a foot tall so it’s great in the front border of your garden beds, rock garden, and wildflower area. It does well in thin soils and gravel so it’s a perfect way to dress up the perimeter of parking areas and along driveways. Its dense clusters of pretty, blue, pea-like flowers will appear by mid-spring - you can extend the show by making an additional early spring sowing for a later bloom.
- Plant type/canopy layer: annual, herbaceous plant
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Size at maturity: 12-24" tall; 6-12" wide
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Light requirements: full sun
- Moisture requirements: moist, though drought tolerant, prefers well-drained soil
- Growth rate/ease: fast growing, easy to grow
- Bloom time: April-August (see note)
- Wildlife support: flowers attract and provide nectar for bees, butterflies and other insect pollinators; overall plant attracts and supports pest eating and other beneficial insects
- Native range: grows on roadsides and thin-soil sites in Western Oregon. Portland Plant List – yes (under Lupinus polycarpus)
- Special features & uses: beneficial insect and pollinator favorite; drought tolerant; landscape uses include meadowscapes and pollinator gardens
Gardening with Small-flowered Lupine: For gardeners that love exploring the vast array of native lupines, this is a cute smaller species to try in open sunny gravelly areas where a shorter pollinator patch is desired, or on the edges of gravel paths and driveways. Like many lupines, scarification of the seeds with sandpaper and/or soaking is recommended before sowing to allow water into the hard protective seed coats to increase germination, especially in drier spring months. Does best without competing vegetation, remove weeds in the area before sowing. Unlike many perennial lupines, this little one is an annual - allow it to re-seed naturally in areas that you want to create a short lupine carpet year after year, or collect seeds once dried in their pods to manually scarify and sow the following fall or spring.
Seeding Instructions: Sow seeds directly into prepared, weed-free soil. No stratification needed with scarification. Sow in fall for mid-spring blooms and/or in early spring for summer blooms. Cool temps may enhance germination. Each packet contains approximately 65 seeds.
Photo Credit: Heritage Seedlings & Liners, Inc