Bicolor Lupine (Lupinus bicolor): A Beautiful and Hardy Addition to a drought tolerant butterfly garden.
Bicolor Lupine (Lupinus bicolor) is a member of the Fabaceae family, commonly known as the Legume family. It is referred to as the Miniature Lupine because of its small size. This showy flowering plant is native to the western part of North America, extending from California to British Columbia. In California, it is prevalent and often found in large numbers, frequently sharing its habitat with the California poppy.
This annual wildflower boasts a short, hairy stem and thin, palmately-arranged leaves. Its flower cluster is relatively short for a lupine, growing up to eight centimeters tall, and typically features flowers with two colors. One is typically a deep blue, while the other can range from white to light purple or magenta. The petals of the flowers may have small speckles or spots.
The plant’s hairy pods are small, only a couple of centimeters long and very thin, and contain tiny brownish peas. While there are several purported subspecies, their relationships remain unclear. Like other lupines, Lupinus bicolor is nitrogen-fixing, making it useful in restoration projects.
This beautiful annual is host to 54 butterflies and moths including the Painted Lady and Gray Hairstreak. This annual is drought tolerant and reseeds readily. Source
