Silver Lupine

Lupinus argenteus

Fabaceae

• Keystone Plant
• Spokane Native
• USDA Zone 3-8
• Sun / Part Shade
• Size: 1' x 3'
• Drought Tolerant: yes
• Evergreen: no
• Flower Color: light purple/blue (May - July)
• Wildlife value: pollinators, butterflies, and hummingbirds
  

Fast-growing perennial with erect stems covered with fine hairs. Thrives in dry, well-drained soils from sagebrush plains to ponderosa pine forests and subalpine ridges. Adapts to various soil types including sandy, rocky, loamy, and clay soils.

Showy spikes up to 8-10 inches long of blue to violet pea-shaped flowers bloom in early to midsummer, creating stunning displays when planted in masses. Banner petals often feature distinctive white or yellow patches. Palmately compound silvery-green leaves with 5-9 leaflets give the plant its characteristic silvery sheen, adding year-round textural interest. Silvery hairs on stems and foliage create an attractive accent.

As a nitrogen-fixing legume, silvery lupine enriches soil and can establish in harsh, low-fertility areas. Designated as a keystone native plant, it provides critical food for numerous butterflies including arrowhead blue, gray hairstreak, lupine blue, and silvery blue. Important nectar source for native bees and bumble bees. Spreads quickly to form attractive colonies, making it valuable for habitat restoration and erosion control on slopes and ridges.

This can be used in rock gardens, wildflower gardens, prairie restoration, native plant gardens, or naturalized areas. Excellent choice for informal gardens, meadows, and dryland gardens. Reseeds readily. Looks breathtaking when planted in mass across desert flats, mountain slopes, and meadows.

Note: Seeds are toxic to humans and livestock if consumed in large quantities. Beautiful and beneficial in appropriate wildlife garden settings.