Miniature Lupine © Janet Horton

Elongated Clusters

Description A usually small, grayish, hairy, branched plant with palmately compound leaves and blue-violet and white pea flowers arranged in whorls in short, thick, cone-like racemes.
Flowers: About 3/8" (9 mm) long; central part of upper petal white, dotted with black; upper edge of lower 2 petals with few hairs near tip; stalks about 1/8" (3 mm) long.
Leaves: 5-7 leaflets, each 1/2-1 1/4" (1.5-3 cm) long, arranged like wheel spokes.
Fruit: Hairy pod, about 3/4" (2 cm) long, less than 1/4" (6 mm) wide.
Height: 4-16" (10-40 cm).

Warning Plants in the genus Lupinus, especially the seeds, can be toxic to humans and animals if ingested. Sensitivity to a toxin varies with a person’s age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility. Children are most vulnerable because of their curiosity and small size. Toxicity can vary in a plant according to season, the plant’s different parts, and its stage of growth; and plants can absorb toxic substances, such as herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants from the water, air, and soil.

Flower March-May.

Habitat Mostly in open, often grassy areas from sea level to moderate elevations.

Range Southern British Columbia south to southern California.

Discussion Miniature Lupine and California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) are common companions, the blue cast given to fields by the lupine perfectly complementing the fiery orange of the poppy. There are many other annual lupines. The oldest known viable seeds, discovered in 1967 frozen in a lemming burrow, are from an Arctic lupine estimated to be 10,000 years old; when planted the seeds germinated in 48 hours.