Lupinus sparsiflorus
An annual desert legume native to the Southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, with green palmately compound leaves of 7–11 leaflets, blue to purple pea-like flowers that bloom January through May with a yellow spot on the banner that darkens after pollination, 20–40 cm tall, and explosive seed pods that disperse seeds on rocky, sandy substrates along roadsides and in creosote scrub.
Common Names
Mojave Lupine, Coulter's Lupine, Desert Lupine, Sand Lupine
Summary
Coulter's lupine, Mojave lupine, is an annual forb in Fabaceae native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It grows 15–40 cm tall with slender erect stems; leaves are palmately compound with 7–11 leaflets; flowers are blue to blue-lilac in a spiraled raceme rising above the foliage, often with a white banner spot that becomes magenta after pollination; explosive dehiscence disperses seeds and nitrogen fixation enriches soils.
Grows in full sun with very low water needs on sandy, loamy, or rocky, well-drained soils, at elevations below 1,300 m; habitats include washes, creosote scrub, chaparral, and desert scrub. Blooming in spring (Jan–May), it is used in ornamental gardens and xeriscaping and suits meadow, ranch, or woodland designs; suitable for raised planters, roadsides, walkways, or rocky landscapes; after establishment, irrigation every 3–4 weeks; attracts bees and is poisonous.
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
6-18 inches
Spread
1 ft
Hardiness Zones
Zones 8-10
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial sun
Soil Type
Well-drained sandy soils.
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
Neutral to slightly alkaline
Bloom Color
Blue
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Moderate
Seasons of Interest
Winter and Spring
Propagation Methods
Seeds (direct seeding; scarification recommended to improve germination)
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Benth.
- Publication
- Pl. Hartw. : 303 (1849)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Fabales
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Subfamily
- Papilionoideae
- Genus
- Lupinus
Synonyms
Lupinus sparsiflorus subsp. mohavensis Lupinus sparsiflorus subsp. inopinatus Lupinus sparsiflorus subsp. pondii Lupinus sparsiflorus subsp. sparsiflorus Lupinus sparsiflorus var. mohavensis Lupinus pondii Lupinus sparsiflorus var. inopinatus Lupinus sparsiflorus var. pondii Lupinus sparsiflorus var. sparsiflorus Lupinus sparsiflorus var. insignitus