Lupine / Bluebonnet

Plant family

Hülsenfrüchtler (Fabaceae) (Fabaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Low

Seeding distance

35 cm

Row spacing

45 cm

Seeding depth

2 cm

Instructions

Description

Lupines are a genus of plants in the legume family. Lupine species exist as a vegetable plant, forage plant, ornamental plant, and wild plant. The seeds of most species contain lupinin, a toxic bitter substance. Certain cultivated forms, on the other hand, are non-toxic and non-bitter (sweet lupin). Lupinus species are mostly perennial, herbaceous plants and reach growth heights of up to 1.5 m (5 ft). There are also tree-like shrubs in this genus. They usually form a taproot. The flowers are in erect, spikey inflorescences.

Growing tips

Let the seeds pre-swell in warm water for 24h. For fast flowering lupins sow them in early April and plant the seedlings in the garden in mid-May. As a green manure, you can sow the lupins directly into the bed from April to August. Lupines quickly self-seed. Therefore, cut off the flowered panicles in time.