Lupinus perennis (Wild Lupine): blue Minnesota wildflowers

Lupinus perennis (Wild Lupine)

Plant Info
Also known as:	Sundial Lupine
Genus:	Lupinus
Family:	Fabaceae (Pea)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun to part shade; fields, prairies, edges of woods
Bloom season:	spring
Plant height:	8 to 24 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Battle Creek Regional Park Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor

Pick an image for a larger view. Most image enlargements are 50-100KB, though some may be larger. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower:: Flowers are in a spike-like cluster to 8 inches long. Individual flowers are ¾ to 1 inch long and a typical pea-shape, on a short stalk. The lower parts of the flower are blue. The upper parts may be blue, or two-tone blue and purple, or blue and white. Both upper and lower parts have many darker blue veins running through them. The lower parts are forced open by insects to reveal a horn-shaped stamen. One plant has multiple spikes.
Leaves:: Leaves are divided into 7 to 11 leaflets, radiating from a central point at the end of a long leaf stem. Leaflets are hairy, up to 2 inches long, have rounded tips and taper to a point at the base.
Fruit:: The seed pod is up to 2 inches long, hairy, shaped like a typical pea pod, and turns black when mature. Each pod contains 2 to several seeds.
Notes:: The seeds of Wild Lupine are poisonous. Wild Lupine is the only host plant for the Karner Blue butterfly caterpillar. Habitat loss has led to the decline in plants, and put the Karner Blue on the endangered species list.

More photos

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN May-June 2007

Comments

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

Posted by: Jeanie in st.louis county
on: 2010-06-19 13:03:46

I was wondering if the lupin plant looked the same in Boulevard California as it does in Minnesota?

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2010-06-20 01:22:08

There are two species of lupine in MN, one native to MN and another native to the western US, but not MN. The latter has been planted around the state, though, mostly in northern counties, as I understand it. You may see that in St Louis county more than the native variety.

Posted by: Kelsey in Tofte
on: 2010-07-02 18:36:17

I was just wondering what is the difference between wild/blue lupine the kind that is the host plant for the blue karner butterfly versus purple lupine the invasive species? can you tell the difference between the appearance? does anyone know the scientific names?

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2010-07-02 20:53:33

The other lupine that is especially widespread in NE MN is Lupinus polyphyllus. The DNR does not recognize it as native though some sources would have you believe otherwise.

Its leaves are arranged in a palmate cluster like Lupinis perennis, but leaflets are larger and sharply pointed at the tip, and there tend to be more of them. The flower color also ranges from near white to shocking pink to purple, and the spikes grow taller.

If you saw them side by side you'd see the differences immediately.