Coastal BC Plants: Large-leaved Lupine
Large-leaved Lupine
In the front and back of our cabin we have Large-leaved Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) growing on floating stumps. I love the way beautiful stalks of purple flowers and bright green palmate leaves reflect on the lake's surface on a calm day. When that happens, it doubles our viewing pleasure.You will find this Lupine growing predominately from Northern California through Southern British Columbia. It is much larger than the Lupine I was familiar with when I lived in Southern California. This variety can grow up to 1.5 metres tall.
Several tall sturdy stems rise from a cluster of basal leaves. Additional leaves continue up the stems in an alternating fashion. At the top, blue to purple pea-like flowers bloom. The flowers open from the bottom up, making the blooming season last a long time. When the season has passed, curved hairy pods form. As they age, they become dark and split, releasing the seeds.
This decorative log has been producing a garden of Lupine for several years now. Doesn't that make an attractive floating flower box? And it's self watering, with the roots growing down to capture the lake water on their own. -- Margy
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I've lived in Cali but never noticed this beautiful Lupine. Nice pictures.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.36hourworkweek.com/2015/03/aprils-fool.html
I think it is only in the northern part of California and from there north. - Margy
DeleteBeautiful. The first volunteer lupine grew out of a crack by our driveway this year, which excited me to no end.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where the seeds came from for mine. They grow on two of the floating logs. But I haven't seen any on land nearby. - Margy
DeleteWell I never. Here in the UK we know them as Lupins, a very popular garden flower grown from the seeds you describe. You learn something every day from the internet.
ReplyDeleteI see them in gardens here as well. They are native, so they grow well. - Margy
Deleteyou live in a gorgeous part of the world!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABCW
I love lupines! Your photos are stunning, Margy!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
Wil, ABCW Team.
stunning view of the lake and lupine too!
ReplyDeleteLupins are a beautiful wildflower in my area. They seed themselves around and they produce colors of pink, yellow, purple.
ReplyDeleteWe have so many. The owner said to us. They do not last too long so dig them up some. We did, but you sure have to take quick out of the field soil and put in fast in one's own soil. If not they will not live. Immediately water them. We found that out with experience. Water for a couple of days and then they grow sturdy.
I haven't tried transplanting live ones, but I gather the seeds every year to plant and try to get more. So far, only the volunteers remain. - Margy
DeleteI love Lupins! Such an attractive flower.
ReplyDeleteI love the floating planter of lupins, such a pretty flower. I had yellow ones in my garden once and after a few years they reverted back to the purple ones.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I wonder if that means they are hybrids that revert back to the original. - Margy
DeleteVery nice. Interesting to see that they are self-watering. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteIf you swim out to the floating stump, you can see all of the roots hanging down into the water. Otherwise they would be a pain to water. - Margy
DeleteThey grow on strange places !
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