Lupine are a common showy bloom. They are characterized by their
divided leaves, spreading like the fingers of a hand, and their tall
spikes of pea-shaped flowers. Most lupine have finely hairy stems and
leaves. Stems and leaf stalks are often reddish. They often hybridize making accurate
identification difficult. There are differences of opinion on identification
amongst the experts. These are some that have unique
features or growth habits based on what I have read.
See also Dwarf
Lupine.
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Silvery Lupine
Lupinus argenteus
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
August 2, 2008
Location:
Farris Creek, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to subalpine
Habitat: Sunny
meadows, roadsides
Grows from 1 to 3 feet tall in masses. The height and density of the foliage varies by site and moisture. Leaves have 5 to 11 leaflets which are sometimes hairless on the upper
surface. It blooms later in the season than L. caudatus. It has many variations in its characteristics about which the
experts disagree and at least 11 varieties have been described.  |
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Flowers range from pale blue to purple and can be bi-colored, white or pink.
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Silvery Lupine
Lupinus argenteus subsp. ingratus
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
July 20, 2009
Location:
SR 165, Eastern CO
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Dry open spaces, roadsides
Grows to 3 feet with leaves that are silvery underneath.
Flowers are white to lavender. |
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Moab Lupine
Lupinus argenteus subsp. moabensis
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
October 4, 2021
Location:
Canyonlands NP, UT
Life Zones:
Foothills and montane
Habitat:
Open areas
Grows to 32" with reddish stems. Leaves have 5 to 9
narrow
leaflets which are often rolled inwards and only hairy underneath.
Flower are blue, lavender to purple. This plant would usually bloom in
the spring but is blooming again in October after a wet September. |
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Tailcup Lupine
Lupinus caudatus
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Spurred Lupine
Photo taken on:
June 25, 2005
Location:
Ditch Trail, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to subalpine
Habitat:
Meadows, open aspen woods
A common lupine growing to 2 feet high in clumps. Leaves have 5 to 9
narrow leaflets up to 2" long, narrower than L. argenteus. Lower leaves
are often withered by bloom time. Flower spike is 3-6" long. Flowers
are violet-blue. Flower wings are hairless, banner is upright and has silky hairs
on the back. Of course, this could be another variety of L. argenteus. |
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Baker's Lupine
Lupinus bakeri bakeri
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Blue Bonnet
Photo taken on:
July 29, 2004
Location:
Almont, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to montane
Habitat:
Meadows, sagebrush
Grows in clumps to 2 feet with reddish stems.
Leaves are soft and bluish-green. Flowers are bluish purple and small, a
¼". |
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Lodgepole Lupine
Lupinus parviflorus
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
June 27, 2006
Location:
Almont, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to subalpine
Habitat:
Meadows, aspen groves, slopes
Grows to 32" tall with a silvery, hairy stem. The
bracts are hairy. There are up to 11 folded leaflets which are bright
green on top and silvery and hairy beneath. Flowers are less than ½"
long. Seedpods have 4 or fewer
seeds. |
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Chokecherry Lupine
Lupinus polyphyllus var. prunophilus
(Lupinus prunophilus)
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
July 1, 2009
Location:
Deer Creek, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills and montane
Habitat:
Woodlands. open areas
Grows to 32" with reddish hairy stems. Leaves have 7 to 11
narrow
leaflets which are often rolled inwards and only hairy underneath.
Flower heads are quite dense and flowers are blue. |
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Rusty Lupine
Lupinus pusillus
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Low Lupine, Small Lupine
Photo taken on:
May 10, 2010
Location:
Little Wildhorse Canyon, UT
Life Zones:
Foothills
Habitat:
Sandy, gravelly areas
Grows 3" to 9" high covered in long hairs. Leaves have 5
to 7 rounded, one inch long, leaflets. Flowers are deep blue. |
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Silky Lupine
Lupinus sericeus
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Pursh's Silky Lupine
Photo taken on:
July 8, 2016
Location:
Rainbow Lake, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to subalpine
Habitat:
Dry rocky slopes, open woods
Grows 8" to 20" high covered in long silky hairs. Leaves
have 7 to 9 narrow leaflets. Flowers are densely clustered and range from light blue to purple.
The calyx, which cups the flower, and the back of the upright banner are
densely hairy.
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Nebraska Lupine
Lupinus plattensis
Family:
Pea (Fabaceae)
AKA:
Platte Lupine, Dark-eyed Lupine, Plains Bluebonnet
Photo taken on:
May 29, 2016
Location:
Wet Mountains, Eastern CO
Life Zones:
Plains and foothills
Habitat:
Meadows, roadsides
Grows low and creeping to 16" high. Leaflets are folded and covered in soft hairs.
Flowers have striped keels and a dark purple band on the front of the banner. |