Silky Lupine
ExplorePlants
Silky Lupine
Lupinus sericeus
Silky Lupine is a beautiful flower with soft, silky leaves and colorful blooms. It grows in sunny places and attracts butterflies and bees, making it a happy spot in nature!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Silky Lupine has tall, dense spikes of pea-like flowers, often vibrant purple, blue, or sometimes white. Its distinctive leaves are covered in fine, silvery hairs, giving the plant a soft, fuzzy, and silvery-green appearance.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusLupinus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Its seeds can stay dormant underground for decades, patiently waiting for the right conditions to sprout!
Many Native American tribes used parts of the Silky Lupine for various traditional purposes.
Silky Lupine flowers are like a special landing strip, guiding bees to their sweet, nutritious nectar!
This plant's super deep roots help it survive long droughts by finding water far underground!
Special abilities
Ability
Nitrogen Ninja
Silky Lupine can enrich the soil with nitrogen, acting like a natural fertilizer, which helps other plants grow too.
Ability
Thirsty Survivor
Silky Lupine has fuzzy leaves that trap moisture and a deep taproot, helping it survive in dry, sunny environments.
Ability
Toxic Shield
Silky Lupine produces bitter, toxic chemicals, especially in its seeds, deterring many hungry animals from eating them.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-75 cm
- Spread
- 15-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-1.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to mid-summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Collects nectar and pollen from its flowers.
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Bombus impatiens
Visits flowers for nectar and helps spread pollen.
symbiotic with
Rhizobium Bacteria
Rhizobium leguminosarum
Forms root nodules to fix nitrogen for the plant.
eats
Deer Mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus
May consume seeds, despite their toxicity to some.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Nitrogen Fixing
Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Do not eat any flowers or plants without asking an adult first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Silky Lupine?
30-75 cm
How wide does Silky Lupine spread?
15-30 cm
How big are the flowers on Silky Lupine?
1-1.5 cm
When does Silky Lupine bloom?
Late spring to mid-summer
Is Silky Lupine edible?
No
Is Silky Lupine toxic?
Moderate
What is Silky Lupine's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Silky Lupine pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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Where to spot
Park21 sightings4 species
British Columbia, CA
Johnstone Creek Provincial Park
You might spot Scarlet Gilia, Great Blanketflower, and Solomon's Plume.
View guide →
Park20 sightings4 species
British Columbia, CA
Stemwinder Provincial Park
You might spot Field Locoweed, Silky Lupine, and Wax Currant.
View guide →
