prairie wildflower
Sky Lupine
Lupinus nanus
Also known as Ocean-blue Lupine
1 of 3Native to California
Coast Ranges from Mendocino to Los Angeles counties; also Kern to Fresno counties
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry Moisture preference
- Zones 7–10 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Mar–May Flowering time
- Height up to 20 in to 51 cm
- Life cycle Annual Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun and lean, dry soil. Its blue flowers peak in April. At up to 20 in, it suits meadows and sunny borders. Hardy in USDA zones 7–10.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The Sky Lupine's blue flowers bloom March to May, peaking in April. This spring display draws bees and butterflies.
Sky Lupine blooms blueFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
also Black-tailed Bumble Bee, Two-form Bumble Bee, Sitka Bumble Bee +5 more
Prong-faced Slender-Mason, Buff-tailed Bumble Bee, Bombus melanopygus edwardsii, Bombus sp., Fog-belt Bumble Bee - Butterflies Silvery Blue also Acmon Blue, Sleepy Duskywing
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Acmon bluehost & nectar
- Silvery bluehost & nectar
- Boisduval's bluecaterpillar host
- Melissa bluecaterpillar host
- Edwards' hairstreaknectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- CaliforniaUnited States (1): CA. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Coast Ranges from Mendocino to Los Angeles counties; also Kern to Fresno countiesThe 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.
- Moisture
- DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7–10The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Poor, dry soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 20 in (to 51 cm)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- AnnualWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Mar–MayWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- BlueThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Mar–MayThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.