wILD LUPINe
Lupinus perennis Bloom time: April - July
Bloom Color: Blue to purple
Height: 1-2.5 ft
Sun exposure: Full Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Deer resistant: Yes
Other Common Names: Sundial lupine, Blue lupine, Indian Beet, Old Maid’s Bonnet
Germination code: CM10
Fun facts: This plant acts as a lifeline for an endangered butterfly named, Karner Blue Butterfly. Karner Blue caterpillars cannot survive without eating wild lupine leaves. The genus name Lupinus comes from the latin word lupus which means wolf. Ancient Romans and farmers wrongly believed the plant “wolfed” or depleted all the nutrients from the soil; but in reality they enriched the soil by hosting nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their roots. This plant is nicknamed Sundial Lupine because its leaves can rotate up to 90 degrees to follow the movement of the sun across the sky throughout the day. The seeds contain bitter alkaloids that are toxic to humans, livestock, and small children but, interestingly, Native American groups historically used preparations of the plant for medicinal purposes like treating nausea.
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