About
An upright, bushy annual to about 1m, with leaves composed of a whorl of narrow leaflets. Short spires of purple-blue, pea-like flowers are produced in summer followed by seeds that can be processed to make them edible.
About the genus
Lupinus can be annuals, perennials or shrubs, with palmate leaves and showy terminal racemes of pea-like flowers
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesMixed borders, hedging, foundation planting.
ToxicityHarmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets if eaten (dogs, cats, rabbits, tortoises) - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moderately fertile, humus-rich, light, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or light, dappled shade. May be grown as green manure; see our video How to grow and sow green manure for advice, or lupin cultivation
PruningDeadhead to encourage more flowers
PropagationPropagate from seed (indoors or outdoors)
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and lupin aphid
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews, rots, a leaf spot and a virus