Bigleaf Lupine

Scientific Name: Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.

Bigleaf Lupine

General Information
Usda Symbol	LUPO2
Group	Dicot
Life Cycle	Perennial
Growth Habits	Forb/herb
Native Locations	LUPO2

Plant Guide

Alternate Names

Alternate Common Names: large leaf lupine, large-leaved lupine, Washington lupine, garden lupine, marsh lupine, blue-pod lupine, altramuz perenne Alternate Scientific Names: Due to its large geographic range, adaptability, and tendency to hybridize, there are several different forms of this species that have been variously treated by botanists as subspecies, varieties, or taxonomic synonyms, including the following: Lupinus arcticus S. Wats. var. prunophilus (M.E. Jones) C.P. Sm., Lupinus burkei S. Wats. ssp. burkei, Lupinus garfieldensis C.P. Sm., Lupinus matanuskensis C.P. Sm., Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. ssp. bernardinus (Abrams ex C. P. Sm.) Munz, Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. ssp. polyphyllus, Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. ssp. superbus (A. Heller) Munz, Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. var. albiflorus Lindl., Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. var. burkei (S. Watson) C. L. Hitchc., Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. var. humicola (A. Nelson) Barneby, Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. var. grandifolius (Lindl. ex J. Agardh) Torr. & A. Gray, Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. var. pallidipes (A. Heller) C. P. Sm., Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. var. polyphyllus, Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. var. prunophilus (M.E. Jones) L. Phillips, Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. var. saxosus (Howell) Barneby, Lupinus prunophilus M.E. Jones, Lupinus pseudopolyphyllus C.P. Sm., Lupinus stationis C.P. Sm., Lupinus wyethii S. Wats. var. prunophilus (M.E. Jones) C.P. Sm.

Uses

Pollinator habitat: Bigleaf lupine attracts native bees, bumble bees, and other beneficial insects with its nectar and pollen-rich flowers that bloom from mid-spring into mid-summer (Ley et al., 2007). It also attracts hummingbirds, contributing to the biodiversity of any site. Ornamental: Also commonly known as garden lupine, its pleasant fragrance and tall, showy flowers make the plant a favorite ornamental for gardeners across the country. Take care to manage the lupines properly as some ornamental hybrids can become weedy and problematic. Restoration: Plants may be used for prairie or wetland restoration as an important component of the native flora. They are deep rooted and suitable for erosion control and soil stabilization. Also, as a native legume, they can be used in revegetation of logging roads or clear cuts as nitrogen fixers (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994).

Ethnobotany

Tribes throughout the range of bigleaf lupine reportedly used different parts of the plant for medicinal or tonic purposes (Moerman, 2003). Although the Thompson tribes of British Columbia considered it poisonous, they used it medicinally for themselves and their horses. The Salishan used it to make tonics and the Kwakiutl ate the roots, fresh or steamed. The Kashaya Pomo used its flowers ceremoniously in dances and festivals.

Status

Throughout its native range in the western U.S., bigleaf lupine has a facultative (FAC) indicator status, meaning it is just as likely to occur in wetlands as uplands (USFWS, 2012). Where it has become invasive in the Midwest, North Central and Northeastern regions, it is considered a facultative upland species (FACU), meaning it occasionally occurs in wetlands but is usually found in uplands. In the Great Plains, however, it has a facultative wetland (FACW) status, meaning it is usually found in wetlands, but occasionally occurs in uplands. Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g., threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Weediness

Lupinus polyphyllus ssp. polyphyllus has been reported as problematic in the eastern portion of North America (Martin and Hawley, 2012). This “garden lupine” or “Russell hybrid” is an escaped hybrid ornamental and may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats, displacing desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, state natural resource, or state agriculture department regarding its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site at http://plants.usda.gov/. Please consult the Related Web Sites on the Plant Profile for this species for further information.

Description

General: This native perennial forb is a legume with a highly variable growth habit. Some varieties grow a large crown and can reach 5 feet tall, while others are highly rhizomatous, branching out many feet, but growing only 6 inches to a few feet tall. Its hollow stalks and large palmate leaves may be hairy to smooth, and at maturity produce 3-inch to 1.5-ft tall racemes of showy white-pink to purplish-blue flowers (Sholars, 2012). Flowering typically occurs from May through July or August, with the hairy pods ripening somewhat unevenly, turning a light grayish tan to dark brown. Pods will produce 3 to 9 small (approximately ¼ inch in length), bean-shaped, mottled brown seeds. Plants are long-lived, usually lasting three years, and possibly much longer. Distribution: Bigleaf lupine is native to western North America, from British Columbia and Alberta south to California and east to Montana, Idaho and Nevada. In the East, subspecies polyphyllus is considered invasive and has spread across the Great Lakes states, into the northeastern coastal states, and eastern Canada. The species is also found in Alaska, but is believed to have also been introduced there. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Habitat: This species prefers moist habitats and seasonally wet soils, but will tolerate seasonal dryness (Robson et al., 2008). It is commonly found in a variety of habitat types including seasonally dry to marshy meadows, wetlands and damp forests, along stream banks and ditches, and in disturbed areas (Turner and Gustafson, 2006).

Adaptation

Although bigleaf lupine prefers cool, subalpine climates and damp to wet soils, it can also tolerate full sun and seasonally drier soils (Robson et al., 2008). Observations indicate it can even prefer acidic, nutrient-poor mineral soils, giving it a competitive advantage over other plants in the community (Fremstad, 2010). This is a very Photo courtesy of G. D. Carr, Oregon Flora Project, 2006 versatile plant that will grow almost anywhere with few management needs.

Establishment

Prior to planting, reduction of the weed seed bank on site and proper field preparation is important. Bigleaf lupine, like many legumes, has hard-coated seeds, so will germinate unevenly if not scarified prior to sowing. Scarified seeds or plugs should be started in moist to wet soils. Fortunately because of its rapid spring growth, this species can be quite competitive with weeds if established from transplants in early spring. Scarified seeds can also be sown in fall or spring, but competition with weeds may limit establishment success. For broadcast seeding, the recommended single-species rate ranges from 10 to 35 lb/acre, depending on use and site conditions. There are approximately 19-30,000 seeds per pound, so sowing at a rate of 10 pure live seed (PLS) pounds per acre will result in 4 to 7 seeds per square foot. Establishment and subsequent growth may also be improved by inoculating with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium lupini) prior to planting to aid the formation of root nodules. Plants are hearty and will grow throughout the first year, reaching maturity and flowering the second year.

Management