Minnesota Wildflowers


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Lupinus polyphyllus (Large-leaved Lupine)

Plant Info
Also known as: Western Lupine, Big-leaf Lupine
Genus:Lupinus
Family:Fabaceae (Pea)
Life cycle:annual, perennial
Origin:Western US
Status:
  • Invasive - ERADICATE!
Habitat:part shade, part shade, sun, sun; fields, roadsides
Bloom season:May - July
Plant height:2 to 4 feet
County distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: irregular Cluster type: raceme spike

[photo of flowers] A spike-like raceme 6 to 18 inches long of ½-inch pea-shaped flowers on stalks about ½ inch long. Flowers are typically blue to violet, but may be pink, white, or 2-tone. The upper petal (standard) curls or folds back on the sides and is a bit smaller than the lateral wings below it. The raceme may be tightly packed or looser, the flowers spiralling or nearly whorled around the stem.

Leaves and stem: Leaf attachment: alternate Leaf type: palmate

[photo of leaves] Leaves are palmately compound in groups of 9 to 17. Leaflets are 2 to 5 inches long, to 1 inch wide, toothless, hairless on the upper surface, silky hairy on the underside, pointed at the tip, tapering at the base, on a long stalk. Stems are smooth and green.

Notes:

Large-leaved Lupine is native to the Western US as well as a popular cultivar introduced to Minnesota by gardeners. It not only escaped cultivation but was intentionally planted along roadsides, especially along the north shore of Lake Superior, where it forms large mono-cultures. Apparently they've done same thing in New Zealand, where it has also become invasive. Yes, it can be quite striking and many people have told me how pretty those roadsides look, but that doesn't make it any less destructive. Similar species is the native Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis), which is an overall smaller plant with 7 to 11 leaflets, and whose natural range is primarily limited to southeastern and east central Minnesota.

Where to buy native seed and plants

Help support this site by buying seeds & plants from these vendors. Tell them we sent you!

  • Shop for native seeds and plants at PrairieMoon.com!
  • Out Back Nursery and Landscaping - Where Ecology and Horticulture Unite
  • Shooting Star Native Seeds - Native Prairie Grass and Wildflower Seeds
  • Landscape Alternatives - Distinctive Native Plants since 1986!
  • Prairie Restorations - Bringing people together with the land

Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photo by K. Chayka taken in Aitkin County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Aitkin and St. Louis counties.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Mavis in Ely, MN
on: 2011-05-14 04:48:53

I have seen them along ditches and roadsides near Ely in June.

Posted by: Henry in Minneapolis
on: 2011-06-29 10:31:35

Why does the USDA list bigleaf lupine as native in Minnesota? http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LUPO2&mapType=nativity&photoID=lupo2_001_ahp.tif

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2011-06-29 13:09:38

The USDA Plants maps are pretty outdated and there does not seem to be a way to correct them, which is why we started making our own maps earlier this year. The MN DNR is a better source to determine what is native and not, and their big list-o-plants marks Lupinus polyphyllus as not native. It is a western species that's been planted here. The native lupine is an eastern species, where MN is on the western edge of its natural range.

Posted by: Leona in Duluth
on: 2011-07-10 11:59:39

We saw TONS of it along the North Shore!

Posted by: Erin in big lake
on: 2011-07-16 22:22:59

Broke my heart to read that this is not native. I have some in my garden! I guess it's time to weed....

Posted by: ckt in Grand Marais MN
on: 2011-07-27 17:45:41

I LOVE THIS FLOWER!!! We first started seeing it in our area about 20 years ago. The seeds scatter themselves when they pop open, but we helped them along by collecting and scattering where we wanted them to grow. Now we have a huge area at our cabin north of Grand Marais that is just covered with them. They are so beautiful and the fragarance is delightful!!

Posted by: Micah in NE Minnesota
on: 2011-08-05 02:11:55

This was a very big year for lupines in NE Minnesota all along Hwy 61 and inland. Although it is an invasive species I do think they are very pretty.

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