Sky Lupine Seeds (Lupinus nanus)
A prolific re-seeding annual, a small plant that turns hillsides ocean blue in spring, and a plant that can often persist among invasives…those are some of the commendable traits of sky lupine, a plant native to nearly all of California, parts of southern Oregon, and Nevada. (Although its adaptive range is a bit broader across the west).
We love this plant in its native grassland/open slope/oak savannah/chaparral habitats. But it’s just as vivid, electric, and fantastic when growing with its inherent flair next to sun-baked roadsides, compacted gravel lots, hellstrip parking lot edges, and weedy toxic wastelands (it can take on all of those spaces and still grow with commendable vigor!).
Sky lupine is a caterpillar host for various blue butterflies (Lycaenidae), such as the Boisduval’s blue (Icaricia icarioides). Its flowers are visited by many bees: the California bumble bee (Bombus californica), the fog-belt bumble bee (Bombus caliginosus), Edward’s bumble bee (Bombus edwardsii), the orange-rumped bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), the (now rare) western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), the yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii), the California mountain digger bee (Habropoda depressa), the wide-striped sweat bee (Halictus farinosus), the Utah wool-carder bee (Anthidium utahense), the blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria), the western forest mason bee (Osmia nemoris), the little queen mason bee (Osmia regulina), and scores of others.
A bit taller than the similar bicolor lupine (Lupinus bicolor), sky lupine rises to about 18-inches on fertile soils, and stays a bit smaller (but still radical and glorious) on dry, hot, rocky soils. Flowers appear from March to May, depending on the elevation and annual weather cycles, and the blossoms are often marked with white or cream-colored banners.
A perfect plant for many spaces. One of those western annuals that does a good job of sticking around and maintaining some population density through natural reseeding all by itself.
Approximately 100 seeds (1.3 grams).