Desert Lupine Plant Care - How To Grow Desert Lupine Plants

Feed desert lupines lightly once per month during the growing season using a general-purpose fertilizer. Like other lupine plants, they fix nitrogen in the soil, making them good companions wherever nitrogen loving plants will be grown. Pinch wilted flowers to encourage prolific blooming throughout the season.

Where do lupines grow best?

Easy to grow, lupine thrives in cool, moist locations. It prefers full sun to light shade and average soils, but will tolerate sandy, dry soil. Plants develop long taproots, so loosen the soil to a depth of 12-20 inches using a rototiller or garden fork. They will not grow in clay.

How do you take care of a lupine plant?

Plant lupine in full sun in areas with cool summers, but give them filtered sunlight in warmer climates. “Although full sun is best for outstanding blooms, you may have to compromise and plant them in partial shade in order to keep them cool and happy,” says Hodgson.

Do lupins come back every year?

Lupins are perennial (i.e. they come up year after year) shrubs which start into growth after the last frosts, produce their first flush of flowers in late May / June and can continue flowering into early August if dead-headed correctly (see below).

How do you keep lupines blooming?

To encourage blooms, fertilize lupines with a plant food that is high in phosphorus. Nitrogen rich fertilizer may encourage growth of the foliage and do little to promote flowering. Deadhead spent blooms for returning lupine flowers.

Do lupines spread?

Lupines are deep rooted and do not spread except through re-seeding. Seeds will not come true to the original variety planted, but will eventually revert to blue-violet and white.

Will lupines bloom the first year?

Lupines (Lupinus spp.) make a spectacular statement in the perennial garden with their tall spikes of pealike flowers. ... Bloom times vary depending on growing conditions and planting methods, but lupines usually bloom the first year after planting.

Do lupines like sun or shade?

Lupines prefer moist, sandy, well-drained soil and cool temperatures. They can succeed on heavier soils, but you really need to loosen the soil for their long taproots. Select a spot in full sun or light shade. Loosen the soil to a depth of about 1 to 1-½ foot.

What can I plant next to lupines?

Lupines (Lupinus Polyphyllus) are one of the most striking perennials in the late spring garden with their elegant lines, exquisite colors and fine-textured foliage. They partner extremely well with the tall, architectural ornamental onions (Alliums) to create spectacular displays.

How do you deadhead Lupine?

When most of the flowers on a spike have faded and before they've dried and set seed, deadhead by cutting the spike off with a sharp knife or garden shears. Make the cut on the stem just behind the spike, at a point where you see small growth buds.

Should lupins be cut back?

Caring for lupins

Deadhead lupins once flowers have faded and you should be rewarded with a second flush of flowers. In autumn, cut lupins right back to the ground after collecting seed. Lupins are not long-lived plants – expect to replace plants after about six years.

Why are my lupins dying?

After several years of research, the cause of lupin sudden death has been identified as a root rot caused by the soil-borne fungus Phytophthora. Accordingly, the disease will now be known as Phytophthora root rot of lupins.

Are lupins easy to grow from seed?

However, growing lupins from seed can be tricky, as they are susceptible to rotting if too damp, and they dislike root disturbance, so transplanting may not be successful. On the plus side, many lupins come true from seed, so the offspring should be exactly the same as the parent plant.

Can you grow lupines in pots?

Can I grow lupines in a container? We do not recommend growing them in containers as they are too large. Will they continue to bloom if I deadhead them? In general lupines will bloom once, but may produce a second flush of bloom in late summer if cut back after blooming.

Are lupines invasive?

In a nutshell, it is an invasive plant that can crowd native species out of their preferred habitats. Also, their seeds are toxic to animals if too many are consumed, which could threaten both grazing farm animals and native herbivores.

How do you prune a lupine plant?

Snip off the main stem right above the location where it branches at a side stem once the flowers on the main stem start to fade. The main stem will not regrow once removed, but it will produce more side stems with flowers later in the season. Snip off the side stems, too, once their flowers start to fade.

Is Lupine poisonous to dogs?

Warning: Plants in the genus Lupinus, especially the seeds, can be toxic to humans and animals if ingested. POISONOUS PARTS: Seeds. Toxic only if eaten in large quantities. Symptoms include respiratory depression and slow heartbeat, sleepiness, convulsions.

What animals eat lupine?

Use Wildlife: Deer browse foliage. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. Warning: Plants in the genus Lupinus, especially the seeds, can be toxic to humans and animals if ingested. POISONOUS PARTS: Seeds.

How long does it take for Lupine to grow from seed?

The seed coat is tough, so seeds have a better germination rate if you nick the seed coat or soak it in water overnight. Plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep outdoors in a permanent area that receives full sun; lupines do not transplant easily due to their long taproots. Expect germination in 14 to 30 days.

Why are my lupines not blooming?

Lupines need some sun to bloom but not too much. If you plant lupines in deep shade, they won't flower. ... Another possible cause of failure to flower is too much sun or high temperatures, especially in early summer.

Do lupines multiply?

Individual lupines plants do not spread. As they get older the root gets bigger and sends up more flower stalks. Lupines, do, however, produce dozens of pealike seeds per plant, which are dispersed when the pods pop open in late July or early August.