# Lupine (*Lupinus*) Lupines are colorful flowers that grow in many places around the world. They come in shades of purple, pink, blue, and white, brightening up meadows and gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Lupin ![Lupine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lupinus_albus_000_223_259_O.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jean-Claude Echardour \[CC BY-SA\], via Tela Botanica, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lupinus_albus_000_223_259_O.jpg) ## Appearance The Lupine has distinctive palmate leaves that resemble a hand and tall, showy flower spires. Its vibrant pea-like blossoms bloom in dense clusters, often in shades of purple, blue, pink, or white, making them easily recognizable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Lupinus ## Interesting facts - Ancient lupine seeds, 10,000 years old, have sprouted when warmed! - Its name 'Lupine' comes from 'wolf' in Latin, once thought to 'steal' soil nutrients! - Lupine plants have leaves that cleverly fold up at night to save water. - Some varieties of lupine seeds are soaked and eaten like beans in the Mediterranean! ## Special abilities - **Soil Power-Up:** Lupine can fix nitrogen from the air into the soil, helping itself and other plants grow stronger! - **Thirsty Roots:** Lupine has a deep taproot that helps it find water far underground, staying hydrated in dry places. - **Chemical Shield:** Lupine produces special bitter chemicals called alkaloids that can deter hungry animals from eating it. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Forms nodules to fix nitrogen for the plant. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on leaves and shoots, especially young plants. ## Traits - [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbaceous): Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season. - [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. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy looking at lupines, but avoid picking them to let them grow and spread. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lupine? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Lupine? 30-150 cm ### How wide does Lupine spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Lupine? 1-2 cm ### When does Lupine bloom? Spring to summer ### Is Lupine edible? No ### Is Lupine toxic? Moderate ### What is Lupine's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Tantalus Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tantalus-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Lockhart Beach Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lockhart-beach-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Kootenay Lake Provincial Park - Midge Creek Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kootenay-lake-provincial-park-midge-creek-site) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Lupine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/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: [Lupine: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lupine)