Lupinus albifrons

Common Names

Silver Bush Lupine, Silver Lupine, White-Leaf Bush Lupine, Evergreen Lupine, Lupine

Summary

Silver Lupine is a California and Oregon native evergreen shrub or subshrub with silvery-green, palmately divided leaves and blue to violet flower spikes that commonly display a yellow patch on the banner, growing about 3–5 ft tall and 2–3 ft wide with a rounded form and spring to summer blooms that attract bees and serve as a host plant for the Mission Blue butterfly.

In cultivation it prefers full sun and very well-drained soil, tolerates low fertility, and requires minimal summer irrigation after establishment; propagation is by seed and it is a nitrogen-fixer. The plant is used in drought-tolerant native gardens, xeriscapes, and habitat plantings; it is deer resistant and supports pollinators and Mission Blue butterfly larvae, with USDA hardiness zones 6–10.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-5 ft

Spread

2-5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained, sandy or rocky soil, pH 6.0–8.0

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil, best on the dry side, and dries out almost completely between waterings.

Soil pH

6.0-8.0

Bloom Color

Blue to purple

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Silvery

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators