# Broadleaf Lupine (*Lupinus latifolius*) Broadleaf Lupine is a beautiful flower with big, colorful leaves and tall spikes of purple blooms. They grow in sunny places and attract butterflies and bees, making gardens look lovely and lively! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Broadleaf Lupine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lupinus_latifolius_5800.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lupinus_latifolius_5800.JPG) ## Appearance The Broadleaf Lupine has tall, upright spires of dense, pea-like flowers, typically in shades of vibrant blue to purple, sometimes white. Its distinctive leaves are palmate, fanning out like fingers on a hand, making it stand out in meadows. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Lupinus ## Interesting facts - Ancient civilizations once ground certain lupine seeds into flour for baking! - Did you know some lupine seeds can stay alive in the soil for decades, waiting to sprout? - Its flowers change color after pollination, telling bees which ones still have nectar! - The unique palmate leaves collect morning dew, like tiny natural water collectors. ## Special abilities - **Soil Supercharger:** Broadleaf Lupine has special root nodules that can convert nitrogen from the air into plant food, making the soil healthier. - **Deep Drinker:** Broadleaf Lupine has a strong taproot that helps it reach deep water sources, allowing it to survive during dry periods. - **Built-in Bug Repellent:** Broadleaf Lupine produces natural chemicals called alkaloids that make its leaves taste bad to most hungry animals. - **Seed Sprinkler:** Broadleaf Lupine's seed pods can explosively twist open, flinging seeds a short distance to spread its offspring. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [Boisduval's Blue](https://www.snappit.app/explore/boisduvals-blue) (*Icaricia icarioides*) — caterpillars feed on leaves - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — fixes nitrogen in its roots - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on leaves and shoots ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers unless a grown-up says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Broadleaf Lupine? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Broadleaf Lupine? 60-150 cm ### How wide does Broadleaf Lupine spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Broadleaf Lupine? 1-1.5 cm ### When does Broadleaf Lupine bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is Broadleaf Lupine edible? No ### Is Broadleaf Lupine toxic? Moderate ### What is Broadleaf Lupine's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Broadleaf Lupine: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broadleaf-lupine)