prairie wildflower
Nootka Lupine
Lupinus nootkatensis
1 of 2Native to Alaska and southern Canada
Coastal areas from the Aleutian Island to the White Pass region in British Columbia
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moisture preference
- Zones 2–9 Cold to heat range
- Bloom May–Aug Flowering time
- Height up to 2 ft to 0.6 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun. Its blue and purple flowers peak in June. At up to 2 ft, it suits meadows and sunny borders. Hardy in USDA zones 2–9.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The Nootka Lupine's blue and purple flowers bloom May to August, peaking in June. This early-summer display draws bees.
Nootka Lupine blooms blue & purpleFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Black-tailed Bumble Bee
also Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee, Lucorum-group Bumble Bees, Heath Bumble Bee +2 more
Garden Bumble Bee, Tree Bumble Bee
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Acmon bluecaterpillar host
- Boisduval's bluecaterpillar host
- Melissa bluecaterpillar host
- Silvery bluecaterpillar host
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Alaska and southern CanadaUnited States (1): AK. Canada (1): BC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Coastal areas from the Aleutian Island to the White Pass region in British ColumbiaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 2–9 · Canadian 0–8The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Gravelly soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Soil quality
- MediumHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
- Salinity tolerance
- NoneHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 2 ft (to 0.6 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- RapidA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
- Shape
- ErectIts overall silhouette.
- Root depth
- 12+ in (30+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- May–AugWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- Blue, PurpleThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Jul–SepThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.
Propagation & seed
- Cold stratification
- Required (cold, moist)Whether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
- Propagation
- SeedHow to start new plants.
- Seed
- ~0.0 million seeds per poundNotes on the seed and how to sow it.
- Seed spread rate
- SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
- Seedling vigor
- MediumHow strongly young seedlings establish.
- Vegetative spread
- SlowWhether it creeps outward or stays put in a clump.