1. 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
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