# Seashore Lupine (*Lupinus littoralis*)

Seashore lupine is a beautiful flower that grows near the coast. Its tall stems are covered in lovely purple blooms that attract butterflies and bees, making it a favorite among nature lovers.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![Seashore Lupine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lupinuslittoralis.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lupinuslittoralis.jpg)

## Appearance

The Seashore Lupine is a low-growing plant with silvery-green, palm-shaped leaves. It features upright spikes of densely packed, pea-like flowers, typically vibrant purple to blue, often creating stunning mats of color along sandy coasts.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Fabales
- **Family:** Fabaceae
- **Genus:** Lupinus

## Interesting facts

- Wow! Its beautiful flower spikes are like landing strips for busy bumblebees!
- Wow! Its tough seeds can wait for years in the sand before deciding to sprout!
- Wow! The furry leaves are like a cozy blanket, helping it keep water in and stay warm!
- Wow! This plant is a sandy soil superhero, sharing special food for other plants!

## Special abilities

- **Soil Power-Up:** Seashore Lupine can fix nitrogen in its roots, turning air into plant food for itself and others in poor soil.
- **Sand Anchor:** Seashore Lupine has deep, spreading roots that grip loose sand, helping to stabilize fragile coastal dunes.
- **Salty Survivor:** Seashore Lupine has fuzzy leaves and a tough nature that helps it thrive in sandy, salty coastal environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-60 cm
- **Spread:** 30-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Symbiotic with:** Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (*Rhizobium lupini*) — Lives in root nodules, provides nitrogen
- **Eaten by:** Square-spotted Blue (*Euphilotes battoides*) — Larvae feed on leaves and flowers

## 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.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [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.
- [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.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers to help them grow for everyone to enjoy.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Seashore 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 Seashore Lupine?

10-60 cm

### How wide does Seashore Lupine spread?

30-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Seashore Lupine?

1-1.5 cm

### When does Seashore Lupine bloom?

Spring to summer

### Is Seashore Lupine edible?

No

### Is Seashore Lupine toxic?

Moderate

### What is Seashore Lupine's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [American Camp - San Juan Island National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-camp-san-juan-island-national-historical-park) — Washington, US · Park

## 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*)

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Source: [Seashore Lupine: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/seashore-lupine)