Lupine flowers put on a magnificent show early in the season, with their colorful spiked blooms. Often seen gracing the roadways and meadows, lupines can also be grown in the garden landscape, for a cottage garden feel. Learn how to grow lupines in your garden, for a beautiful early season display.
Lupines are a stunning addition to any garden. Known for their tall, spiked flowers, which come in a range of brilliant colors, lupines can truly transform any garden space.
These flowers aren’t just loved for their beauty. They bring a sense of structure and depth to the garden, adding a striking vertical element.
Understanding how to plant, grow, and care for lupines will help you enjoy all that these flowers have to offer. Read along to learn how you can successfully grow these fabulous flowers in your own garden.
Understanding Lupine Basics
Before planting and growing lupines, it’s important to know a bit about the plant.
Nitrogen Fixers
Lupines, belong to the genus Lupinus, which is part of the pea or legume family, known scientifically as Fabaceae or Leguminosae.
This family includes a wide variety of plants known for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, which occurs through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in their root systems.
Like other members of the pea family, lupines also have the ability to form this symbiotic relationship with these nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which are called Rhizobium.
The bacteria colonize the roots of the lupines, and convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that the plants can use. This in turn enriches the soil with nitrogen, which is important for plant growth.
The enriched soil can also benefit other plants nearby, which is a bonus.
Perennials And Annuals
Lupines can be both annuals and perennials, depending on the species. Most commonly, garden lupines (Lupinus polyphyllus), which are the large, colorful varieties often seen in gardens, are perennials.
These perennial flowers can come back year after year from the same roots, if grown in the right conditions.
There are also annual species of lupines, like the Lupinus hartwegii and Lupinus mutabilis, which complete their life cycle in just one year. These lupines grow from seed, to flowering, and then dying within the same season.
Adaptability
Lupines are adapted to a wide range of environments, although they originally came from areas with mild climates. They do well in places that aren’t too hot or too cold, making them a good choice for many gardeners.
Lupines also have a long taproot. This deep root system allows them to access water from deeper soil layers, and helps them thrive even in less fertile soils.
The taproot is also beneficial for stabilizing the soil and helping the plant withstand drought conditions.
This characteristic makes lupines particularly good at adapting to various garden environments. It can however make transplanting mature plants challenging, due to the risk of damaging the taproot.
Lupine Plant Details
The plants can bring a burst of color to your garden, with a variety of colors including shades of blue, purple, pink, and white. The spiked blooms contain clusters of densely packed individual blooms each with a characteristic shape similar to that of pea flowers.
These plants typically grow quite tall, often reaching heights of up to four feet. There are also shorter cultivars as well, such as the annual ‘Hartwegii Series’, which grow to be 18 to 24 inches tall.
Lupine leaves are distinctive, and contribute to the plant’s ornamental value. The leaves are typically palmate, meaning the leaves radiate out from a central point, much like the fingers on a hand.
The leaves are often a rich green color, providing a lush background that contrasts beautifully with the vivid floral spikes of the lupine flowers.
Growing Lupines
Growing lupines from seed is often the best option. You can also pick up plants from your garden center if you are looking for blooming sized plants.
When growing from seed, perennial varieties often will not flower until the second year, although you may get some small blooms towards the end of the season.
Common Cultivars
Lupines come in a variety of cultivars, each offering unique colors and growth characteristics. Here are just a few common lupine cultivars:
Wild Lupines (Lupinus perennis):
- Although less commonly used in formal gardens, wild lupines are excellent for naturalistic garden settings or wildflower meadows where they can self-seed and proliferate under suitable conditions. These plants are perennial.
Russell Hybrids
- These are perhaps the most famous lupine cultivars, with many varieties, known for their tall spikes of densely packed flowers in a wide range of colors. They typically reach about 3 to 4 feet in height. These lupines are perennial.
Gallery Series
- This series is known for it’s shorter stature, usually around 2 feet tall, making the flowers ideal for smaller gardens or container planting. Gallery lupines come in colors such as blue, red, pink, white, and yellow, and are perennial.
Propagation
Lupines are very easy to propagate and grow using the right techniques. Growing the plants from seed and basal cuttings are the best ways to propagate these plants.
Although lupines are herbaceous perennials, they are not easily lifted and divided, due to the risk of damage to their long taproot.
Growing From Seed
There are a number of ways to start lupine seeds. The seeds can be started early in containers indoors, winter sown, or direct seeded into the garden.
Typical of most perennial seeds, the seeds will benefit from some form of stratification, to help with germination.
Winter sowing and direct seeding in the fall will expose the seeds to the outdoor environment in winter, where natural stratification will occur.
If starting your lupine seeds indoors, they can be artificially stratified for several weeks in the fridge, which will help them to germinate well.
Personally, I’ve had best success with the winter sowing method. The lupine seedlings grown using this method are hardy and healthy, and easy to transplant with reduced risk of damage to the taproot.
When transplanting your seedlings, be careful not to damage the tap root, as the plants may not recover from this injury.
Growing From Cuttings
Growing lupines from basal cuttings is a method often used to propagate perennial lupine varieties.
Basal cuttings involve taking new growth from the base of the plant in early spring, which can lead to a high success rate of rooting and plant development.
The best time to take basal cuttings is early in the season when the plant starts to produce new shoots from the base.
Each cutting should be about 3-4 inches long. Ensure the cuttings have at least two sets of leaves.
With a clean, sharp knife or scissors, carefully cut the chosen shoots at the base, where they join the rootstock. Remove the bottom leaves to expose a short section of the stem.
Dip in rooting hormone, or plant without, and plant up. Keep moist until new roots form.
Growing Conditions
Growing Zone
- Lupines are fairly versatile, and can grow in a variety of climates, though their preference will vary depending on the species. Generally, lupines thrive best in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 7.
Light Requirements
- Lupines often do best when they receive full sun, and should get at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day for best flowering.
- Full sun will also help to reduce the risk for fungal diseases, by helping to keep the lupine leaves dry.
- However in hotter climates, lupines will benefit from light afternoon shade, to prevent scorching of their leaves.
Moisture Requirements
- Lupines benefit from regular watering, especially when they are young and getting established in the garden. They need enough water to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
- Their deep taproot makes them somewhat drought-tolerant once established.
Soil Requirements
- Lupines grow best in slightly acidic to neutral soil, with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
- Good soil drainage is very important for lupines to prevent root rot. If you’re planting lupines in clay-heavy soil, consider amending it with organic material or planting in raised beds to improve drainage.
Maintenance And Care
Pruning And Deadheading
Deadhead spent lupine blooms, before they start to form seeds. This will help the plant to conserve energy, and you may even get rebloom towards the end of the season.
Deadheading seed pods will clean up the appearance of your lupine plants post bloom. This maintenance technique will also help to prevent self seeding.
Pruning old foliage can also help to clean up the plant’s appearance.
Pests And Diseases
Managing pests and diseases is important for maintaining healthy lupines in your garden.
Pests
Lupines are prone to pests such as aphids, slugs, and snails.
Use a strong spray of water to knock aphids off plants, or treat with insecticidal soap for more severe infestations.
For slugs and snails, hand picking in the evening can be effective. You can also use slug bait or create barriers around the plants with diatomaceous earth or eggshells.
Diseases
Lupines are vulnerable to fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew.
Increase air circulation around plants by thinning and pruning. Avoid overhead watering to reduce humidity levels. Also, make sure to space well when planting, according to the needs of the specific cultivar.
Root rot can also become a problem. Ensure lupines are planted in well-drained soil to prevent this disease from occurring.
Harvesting And Using
Lupines make stunning cut flowers, bringing a touch of the wildflower look to floral arrangements with their tall, colorful spikes. They can be placed in an arrangement all on their own, or mixed in with other flower types.
Harvesting Lupines
Harvesting lupines at the right time and caring for them properly can extend their vase life and maximize their impact. Here’s how you can successfully harvest and use lupines as cut flowers:
- For the longest-lasting cut flowers, lupines should be harvested early in the morning when their water content is highest.
- Cut the flower spikes when about one-third to one-half of the flowers have opened. The buds higher up on the spike will continue to open after cutting, extending the display.
- Use sharp, clean shears or scissors to cut the flower stems. Make a clean cut at an angle, which increases the surface area for water uptake and prevents the stem from resting flat against the bottom of the vase, blocking water absorption.
- Strip any leaves that will be below the surface of the water.
- After cutting, place the lupine stems immediately in a bucket of cool water. This prevents the stems from drying out and helps maintain their freshness.
- For best results condition for several hours before using.
Using Lupines
Lupines work well in both mixed and single-species arrangements. Their tall, vertical shape makes them excellent focal points in larger arrangements, or elegant simplicity in single-stem displays.
Pair lupines with other garden favorites like peonies, irises, and roses for a traditional look. You can also mix them with grasses and herbs for a more modern, rustic feel.
The unique shape and vivid colors of lupines make them a wonderful choice for the vase.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Is The Best Time To Plant Lupine Seeds?
The best time to plant lupine seeds is in the fall, winter, or early spring. Planting in the fall and winter (winter sowing) allows the seeds to experience a natural stratification process over the winter, promoting better germination in the spring.
Do Lupines Need Full Sun?
Lupines perform best in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. However, too much shade may reduce blooming and cause the plants to become leggy.
Can Lupines Be Grown In Containers?
Yes, smaller lupine varieties, and annual lupines can be grown in containers. Make sure to use a large enough pot to accommodate the deep taproot and provide adequate drainage.
Are Lupines Deer Resistant?
Yes, lupines are generally considered deer-resistant due to their slightly bitter taste. However, in areas with high deer populations, no plant is completely deer-proof.
Conclusion
If you love lupines, then you will love growing them in your garden space.
The flowers add a striking vertical element, and add spectacular colors and textures to the garden.
By following the guidelines discussed—from selecting the right variety and preparing the ideal site, to understanding the care and maintenance these beautiful flowers require—you can ensure your lupines thrive.
Don’t hesitate to experiment with different lupine varieties to find the ones that best suit your garden’s conditions and your own preferences.
Once you have lupines in your garden, you can also try harvesting and planting your very own lupine seeds, to fill your space with these beautiful blooms.
I hope this guide inspires you to start planting lupines, and enjoy the burst of color they bring to any outdoor space. Happy gardening!
Have you grown lupines in your garden? Be sure to leave a comment below to share your experience!
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