You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
By Jacqueline Cross (libellule) September 27, 2008
I have always been a proponent of using native and heirloom plants in the garden. The Florida Lupine is one such plant. Here we will take a closer look at it.
The Florida Native Lupine (Lupinus diffusus), also known as Sky-blue Lupine, is a short-lived perennial. A member of the pea family (Fabaceae), this native to the United States can be seen growing in the southeastern part of the country, specifically in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georigia, North Carolina and South Carolina.[1] In Florida, it can be found in the dry, nutrient-deficient soil of the sandhills, pinewoods, along roadsides and in open pastures.
Lupinus diffusus is classified as a sub-shrub, a low-growing shrub which never reaches more than three feet tall, more typically, less than one and one half feet.[1] The plant will fall over and sprawl across the ground making the growth habit spreading. Leaves are much like that of Lambs' Ear (Stachys citrina). They are both fuzzy and gray-green. Blue and pea-like blooms are born on spikes rising from the center of the thick foliage from early spring through early summer. In Florida, blooms can appear from midwinter to late spring. Native Lupines have been known to dry up and die in Florida immediately after flowering.
Lupinus diffusus
Photo courtesy of Dave's Garden member, Floridian
Like any other Lupine, the Florida Native Lupine does not like root disturbance. It is quite likely the plant will die if one digs and transplants it. It spreads by seed carried on the breeze or by creatures in the wild. Seeds will only germinate if the soil they land on or are planted in, is like that from which they came. This is to say that conditions should be the same for the new seedlings as they are for the mother plant.
The name Lupine comes from the Latin, lupus, meaning "wolf." Lupinus is also Latin and translates to "of wolves." Early Romans thought Lupines actually stole the nutrients from the soil causing it to be barren of other plant life thereby, creating a place suited only to wolves. It was thought that the plants ravaged the earth like wolves do their prey. The opposite is true. Lupinus actually add nutrients to the soil and for this reason, make a good cover crop. The term diffusus means loosely spreading and refers to the spreading habit of the plant.[2]
Lupinus diffusus
Photo courtesy of Dave's Garden member, digital_zen
Lupine seed pods hang like pea pods on the plant after flowers have faded. When dry, the pods explode and send seeds flying into the dirt around the plant.
Seeds should be planted in late fall in Florida, allowing them to chill through the winter. The plant will bloom the first season if seeds are planted in the fall. If planting in the spring, soak seeds in water overnight, then plant no deeper than one quarter inch.
Although Lupines grow in poor soil, they are a bit persnickety about their home. They prefer full sun and well drained sandy soil. It may take a few tries before you find the perfect spot for them. The wonderful blue color of the blooms and the gray-green of the leaves, make it worth the effort. Once these plants ‘take hold' in your garden, they reseed every year thereafter. If you find that they are taking over, deadhead plants as blooms begin to fade to prevent seed pods from forming.
Lupinus diffusus
Photo courtesy of Dave's Garden member, dale_a_gardener
Give plants plenty of room to spread out. Water regularly but do not allow plants to stay wet. It is preferable for the plants to be a little dry.
Aphids are attracted to Lupines but in a healthy garden, parasitic wasps will find the aphids and remove them from your plant.
Plant the low-growing (less than six inches) Silver Lace Tansy (Tanacetum haradjanii) in front of Lupinus diffusus. Then, add the taller(18-20 inches) Lambs' Ear (Stachys citrina) at the back; this will make an attractive grouping that will highlight the foliage. The leaves of these plants will glow under the light of the moon. These would be a lovely addition to any moon garden.
There are many beautiful hybrid Lupines on the market today but nothing beats a plant that is native to your area. It is perfectly suited to grow right where mother nature has dropped it.
That being said, it certainly would not hurt to mix a few of the newer Lupines with the natives.
Lupinus diffusus photograph at top right courtesy of Dave's Garden member, farmstead.
*Seeds are poisonous.
About Jacqueline Cross
I'm a native Floridian...feet planted in the shifting sands of northwest FL. but my heart strings are tightly knotted to the hills of Tennessee.
I live my poodle, Minnie Pearl, Zsa Zsa the cat who runs the whole show and a new addition, Kitty Belle.
I'm a writer, gardener, quilter, cross stitcher, soapmaker and nature lover. Mother to 3 wonderful daughters & Nana to 6 perfect grandchildren.
I also write for Suite101 and was promoted to Feature Writer in the vegetable gardens section in 2008.
Posted by wind (from Mount Laurel, NJ) on September 27, 2008 at 7:50 AM:
I really love lupines, but have not been lucky so far in growing them. I had seeds from a friend in northern New York and thought she said they were growing along the border of a stream. I kept mine moist...maybe they should have been kept dry?
I prefer to grow natives too, when given the choice. It is hard to find native lupine plants for sale here in New Jersey.
Enjoyed your article and like the way you set up the photos with the photo credits :)
Happy Gardening!
~Diana
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 27, 2008 at 3:33 PM:
Hey Diana,
Lupines don't like to totally dry out but they also don't like wet 'feet'. Somewhere in the middle but leaning more toward dry than wet because if they sit in water, the roots will rot.
I love them too. They are so pretty growing in meadows out west. For many years, I didn't know they grew here, much less that we had a native! I had one on my property several years back and I transplanted it into a flower bed before I knew anything about their growing habits, but it died. :-(
I'm glad you enjoyed the article :-)
Jackie
...
Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on September 27, 2008 at 5:45 PM:
If my friend in Orlando were to send me some seeds, do you think I could get them to grow here in northern KY (zone 6a)? I have a bag of sand that I use to make succulent soil that I could mix into a bed.
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 27, 2008 at 6:56 PM:
Hi KYWoods,
I would think it 'iffy' but according to Plant Files this plant will grow in zone 6a.
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
I'm one of those that pushes the zone, so I would try it if I wanted it! :-)
Jackie
...
Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on September 27, 2008 at 7:53 PM:
Great, thanks!!
...
Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on September 27, 2008 at 9:22 PM:
so glad you wrote this!
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 28, 2008 at 4:00 AM:
KYWoods...You're welcome :-)
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 28, 2008 at 4:02 AM:
Dutchlady1 ...Thanks for stopping by and reading it! :-)
...
Posted by malli (from Santa Clara, CA) on September 29, 2008 at 12:15 PM:
Couple of years ago we visited Yosemite. The fragrance from lupine covered medows is heavenly!
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 29, 2008 at 12:22 PM:
Malli...I bet it was heavenly!
...
Posted by seatick (from Fruitland Park, FL) on September 29, 2008 at 11:00 PM:
I remember first seeing the Florida native Lupine from the windows of a school bus I was on with my kids as we were on a field trip down I-75 in Sumter Co., Florida some 25 years ago. I thought the beautiful blue flowering "bush" was one of the most gorgeous sites of that spring and I was determined to find one for my yard. I found them growing along sandy, dry, disturbed soils bordering some backroads and along exit ramps of the Interstate. I tried to transplant one but it died (I sort of figured it would) and I tried seeds but they too, died. I knew my soil was way too wet to support them but now I live in a different place and the ground is dry and sandy, perfect for growing succulants. Next spring I will return to where I saw the Lupines growing before and will try their seeds once again. I hope this time they will take as it is a wonderful plant to see in full bloom!!
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 29, 2008 at 11:22 PM:
Seatick,
I wish you luck with the seeds. I would love to have them here again but I'm afraid that they are long gone from my place now.
J
