# Large-leaved lupine (*Lupinus polyphyllus*) Large-leaved lupine is a colorful flower that grows in big clusters. Its leaves are wide and can look like a hand with many fingers. These flowers are great for gardens and attract butterflies! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Large-leaved lupine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/00_6136_Vielbl%C3%A4ttrige_Lupine_%28Lupinus_polyphyllus%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:00_6136_Vielbl%C3%A4ttrige_Lupine_%28Lupinus_polyphyllus%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Large-leaved lupine has tall, stately spires of densely packed, pea-like flowers, typically in shades of purple, blue, pink, or white. Its large, palmate leaves are divided into 9-17 leaflets, resembling a fan, often with a silvery underside. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Lupinus ## Interesting facts - Its seed pods can explosively twist open, flinging seeds like tiny rockets! - Lupine flowers on a spike often bloom from the bottom upwards! - Sometimes, this plant is called 'quaker bonnets' because of its flower shape! - The name 'lupine' comes from 'lupus,' the Latin word for wolf! ## Special abilities - **Soil Power-Up:** Large-leaved lupine can team up with tiny soil bacteria to grab nitrogen from the air, enriching the ground for itself and neighbors. - **Poison Shield:** Large-leaved lupine has special chemicals called alkaloids in its seeds and leaves that protect it from hungry animals. - **Deep Drinker:** Large-leaved lupine has a long, strong taproot that can reach deep underground to find water, helping it survive drier times. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-150 cm - **Spread:** 60-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Mix-faced bumblebee (*Bombus mixtus*) — Feeds on nectar and collects pollen from flowers. - **Symbiotic with:** Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Lives in root nodules, converting atmospheric nitrogen for the plant. - **Eaten by:** [Elk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elk) (*Cervus canadensis*) — Browses on foliage and flowers, especially when other forage is scarce. - **Eats:** [Deer mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Consumes the seeds from the plant's pods. ## Traits - [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. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wild flowers, as some might not be safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Large-leaved 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 Large-leaved lupine? 60-150 cm ### How wide does Large-leaved lupine spread? 60-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on Large-leaved lupine? 1-2 cm ### When does Large-leaved lupine bloom? Summer ### Is Large-leaved lupine edible? No ### Is Large-leaved lupine toxic? Mild ### What is Large-leaved lupine's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bear Meadows Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-meadows-natural-area) — Pennsylvania, US · Nature Reserve - [Days Ferry Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/days-ferry-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/drumlin-farm-wildlife-sanctuary) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Blue Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blue-hill-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Burnett's Corner](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burnetts-corner) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [East Over Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-over-reservation) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Large-leaved lupine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/large-leaved-lupine) ## 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: [Large-leaved lupine: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/large-leaved-lupine)