Lupinus perennis - Sundial Wild Lupine

DESCRIPTION

Sundial Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis

Beautiful blue flowers adorn the plants from spring into summer. The palmate leaf is attractive all year long. Perfect for a dry, sandy site. This lupine enhances soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen into a useful form. It is pollinated by a wide variety of bees. It is the larval host plant for Karner Blue, Frosted Elfin, Wild Indigo Duskywing, and the Persius Duskywing butterflies and skippers. Deer tend to leave this plant alone.

Benefits

Butterflies flock to the bluish-purple flowers!
Fixes nitrogen in the soil, enhancing other plants
Thrives in gravelly, well-drained soils
Deer resistant, well suited to full sun
Attractive foliage provides great cover for wildlife
Flowers are great in cut arrangements

NATIVE INFO

Native Range

Sunny meadows from Maine west to Minnesota and south to Georgia and Texas.

Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)

INTERESTING FACTS

Sundial Wild Lupine is in the pea family. The plant does not need to be fertilized; in fact, it actually adds fertilizer to the soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, providing a better growing environment for its fellow meadow-dwelling plants.

Sundial Wild Lupine is the only known host plant for the Karner Blue butterfly caterpillar. Habitat loss has led to the decline and put the Karner Blue on the endangered species list.

GROWING TIPS

Plant in full or partial sun, in mesic to dry conditions. While adaptable, this lupine prefers a slightly acidic soil containing sand or sandy loam.

Mature Size: 2-3' Tall x 15-18" Wide

Hardiness Zone: 3-9

Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade

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American Beauties Offer Solution Based Plant Collections to Help you Choose

Quick Tips for Choosing Plants:

Planting a variety of native trees, shrubs, perennials and vines increases biodiversity and gives wildlife a source for food, cover and nesting
Choose a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees so birds and other wildlife will always be able to find shelter
Plant trees and large shrubs where they will block winter winds from the house and shade it in summer, that will save energy and lower your carbon footprint
Try your best to buy plants that were grown locally, your independent garden center will be your best bet
Think about ultimate height and width of the plant you choose, make sure it will fit the space you have for it when it's reached maturity
Plant nectar plants in groups, to attract butterflies and other beneficial insects more easily
Ask for help if you need it. Most garden centers either have a landscape designer on staff or they can give you a reference of a designer that is adept at native plant wildlife gardening. There will be upfront costs but they are small when compared to having to redo a landscape that wasn't what you really wanted

Our Plant Tags Hold the Secrets to Success

Choosing the right plants for your garden can seem like a daunting task but we’re here to help. Our horticulturists have spent a considerable amount of time researching and writing our beautiful, American Beauties plant tags to help you be successful. First of all, when you see an American Beauties branded pot at your garden center you can be confident that the plant is native to your area and a responsible choice.

When you look at our tag you’ll find information about the plants natural habitat. That will give you a clue to how it will work in your backyard. For instance if the plant is naturally founded and moist, shade and you have full sun, it’s not the plant for you. The “Features” section gives you an overview or plant description so you’ll know what to expect. While the “Benefits” section talks about the plants strong suits and how the plant will benefit wildlife.

A Special Note About Exposure

Full sun: Prefers six or more hours of direct sunshine a day
Partial shade: Thrives in three to six hours of daily sunshine
Shade: Generally does well with less than three hours of sun per day. Having said that even shade loving plants will struggle in extremely deep shade.