# Wild Lupine (*Lupinus perennis*)

Wild Lupine has tall spikes of colorful flowers that look like little towers! They help make the soil better for other plants.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 27
- **Habitat:** Sandy fields and roadsides
- **Also known as:** Blue Lupine

![Wild Lupine](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425796/objects/4962.jpg)

## Appearance

The Wild Lupine has striking spikes of pea-like flowers, typically in vibrant shades of blue or purple, though sometimes pink or white. Its unique leaves spread out like fingers on a hand, making it stand out from other wildflowers.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Its seeds can stay dormant in the ground for decades, waiting for just the right time to sprout!
- Many tiny flowers bloom together on tall spikes, making a vibrant 'flower tower' for hungry bees!
- The name 'Lupine' comes from 'lupus,' meaning wolf, as people once thought it 'wolfed' nutrients from soil!
- This plant is vital for the rare Karner Blue butterfly, which only lays its tiny eggs on Lupine leaves!

## Special abilities

- **Soil Power-Up:** Wild Lupine can take nitrogen from the air and put it into the soil, acting like a natural fertilizer for other plants!
- **Deep Drinker:** Wild Lupine has a super-long taproot that helps it reach water deep underground, even in dry, sandy soils.
- **Seed Popper:** Wild Lupine seed pods can pop open with force when dry, scattering seeds far away to grow new plants.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-60 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring_summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers
- **Symbiotic with:** Lupine Rhizobium (*Bradyrhizobium lupini*) — fixes nitrogen in root nodules for the plant
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on leaves and young stems

## Traits

- [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
- [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.
- [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.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Wild 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 Wild Lupine?

30-60 cm

### How wide does Wild Lupine spread?

30-60 cm

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

1-2 cm

### When does Wild Lupine bloom?

Spring_summer

### Is Wild Lupine edible?

No

### Is Wild Lupine toxic?

Moderate

### What is Wild Lupine's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve
- [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden
- [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District
- [Center Square/Hudson–Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/center-square-hudson-park-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District
- [Long Ridge Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-ridge-village-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District
- [Rock House Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rock-house-reservation) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve

[View all places to see Wild Lupine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wild-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*)

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