Sky Lupine

Lupinus nanus

annualView on Calscape

Care

Sun

full sun

Water

moderate

Soil

Fast, Medium, Slow; Tolerates sandy or clay soils.

Size

0–2ft tall, 1–1ft wide

Bloom

Jan-Dec

Foliage

Deciduous

Deer

Resistant

Container

Friendly

Flowers

Prized

Keystone Plant

Supports up to 74 butterfly and moth species in Mediterranean California

Native Range

Central Valley and Coast Ranges from Shasta County to Kern County, below 3000 ft elevation, in grasslands and oak woodland understory.

Care Guide

Planting

Plant Sky Lupine in full sun in fall or winter - it's an annual that flowers winter through spring, so timing your planting for the cooler season gives it the best shot. This plant is unfussy about soil and will tolerate sandy or clay soils with fast, medium, or slow drainage, so don't overthink your soil prep. Space them as you'd expect for a dwarf plant (0.3 to 2 feet tall depending on variety), and you can even tuck them into containers if you prefer.

After Planting

Water moderately through the growing season, but once established, you only need to water a maximum of twice a month during summer - this is a drought-tolerant native. The main mistake people make is overwatering; resist the urge to keep it constantly moist. Since it's an annual, plan for it to complete its lifecycle in one season, though it will self-sow if you let seed heads mature, giving you volunteers next year.

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Endangered & Threatened Species Supported

Mission blueIcaricia icarioides missionensis

Listed under ESA since 1976; found only in San Francisco Bay Area

Federal: Endangered, CA: Endangered

California ringlet butterflyCoenonympha california

California state threatened species

CA: Threatened

Silvery blue butterflyGlaucopsyche lygdamus

California Threatened; Species of Special Concern

CA: Threatened, CA Special Concern

Chalcedon CheckerspotEuphydryas chalcedona