Plant Lust
ShopOrderSellblog
0

  • Plant types

  • Plant styles

  • Planting conditions

  • Seasonal interest

  • Nurseries & Gardens

    • Photo of Lupinus albifrons flower by The Watershed Nursery

    Photo by The Watershed Nursery

    Used with permission, all rights reserved

    Show all photos

    Lupinus albifrons

    Also Known As

    • Silver Bush Lupine

    Plant type

    shrub, perennial

    size

    • H: 3'-4'
    • W: 1'-3'

    planting zones

    • 8a-10b

    More Options

    Lupinus albifrons plant details

    Lupinus albifrons is a broadleaf semi-evergreen perennial shrub with blue foliage. In spring purple flowers emerge. Attracts bees and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Does well in average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained soil.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Lupinus albifrons

    Plant type: perennial shrub
    Plant family: fabaceae
    Foliage: semi-evergreen blue
    Mature size: 1 FT - 3 FT - wide, 3 FT - 4 FT - tall
    Flowers: purple blooms in spring
    Uses: cottage garden, cutting garden, fragrant, native plant

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Lupinus albifrons

    USDA Zones: 8a - 10b
    Sun exposure: sun
    Watering frequency: occasional - low
    Resistant to: deer
    Soil needs: average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Stunning shrub lupine from Mountains of southern Oregon, and northern California forming mounds 24-36", completely covered with silky silver fur. Produces great purple flowers in spring and early summer. Not for the faint-of-heart, this lovely requires mineral soil, summer drought, and a minimum of attention. We find it best in troughs, rock gardens, or the most forsaken part of the dry border. Worth the effort to neglect properly. Frost hardy to 0F or so – bottom of USDA zone 7.

    By: Cistus Nursery

    Tall graceful spikes of deep- purple flowers rise 3-4' topping mounds of shining, silvery foliage in late-spring. This gorgeous perennial is native to the open meadows, forest clearings and coastal scrub of northern California and southern Oregon. Very drought-tolerant and nitrogen fixing it also makes a lovely picture in their native locations or in the water-wise garden. This Lupine is an important food for the larvae for the endangered mission blue butterfly. S/M-D/GDr

    By: Forestfarm

    This easy to grow perennial shrub grows 3-5' tall and is very drought tolerant. Terrific choice for a rock garden, dry border, or plant in a large container. Plant in full sun and lean, well-drained soil. Excellent for a low maintenance rock garden or parking strip. Attracts bees, butterflies and birds. Host to the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly. Outstanding shimmering silvery foliage forming an attractive, dense, compact mound. Long Bloom period (Spring to Summer) with large rich purple flowers. Fragrant and showy! Native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Coastal nitrogen fixer that is an important host to the Mission Blue Butterfly and provides nectar to a number of bees, birds, and other butterflies. Considerable range and variety in plant communities. No Historical Uses found. Found in open sand or rocks along the coast, meadows, west-side forests. Communitites located in Northern Coastal Scrub, Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Yellow Pine Forest, Foothill Woodland Between 0 and 6562 feet .

    By: The Watershed Nursery

    A rounded shrub to 5' tall, this shrubby lupine often develops a gnarled trunk with age. The young stems and leaves are covered with silky hairs that give the shrub a distinctive silver cast, and in spring foot-long spikes appear carrying fragrant purple blossoms, marked with white or yellow. Plants often reseed, forming small colonies if allowed. California.

    By: Native Sons

    Outstanding shimmering silvery foliage is a fabulous feature of this very rare California native. Extremely drought tolerant, it’s a terrific choice for a dry, well-drained garden or good sized container. Forming an attractive, dense, compact mound “Silver Bush Lupine” also offers a long bloom season Spring thru Summer, displaying good sized spikes of rich purple fragrant pea flowers. It’s easy to grow – just give it full sun & lean, well-drained soil. Excellent for a low maintenance rock garden or parking strip. Host to the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly. 3’-4’ tall.

    By: Annie's Annuals & Perennials

    Gardening facts about Lupinus albifrons plant

    How to Grow Lupinus albifrons

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun

    • Water Needs

      • occasional - drought tolerant

    • Water Needs

      • dry in summer

    • Soil Needs

      • average
      • lean
      • well-drained
      • rocky
      • gritty

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • blue

    • Flower Color

      • purple

    • Wildlife

      • bees
      • butterflies
      • deer resistant

    • Flower Season

      • spring

    • Foliage Season

      • semi-evergreen

    See other plant types of Lupinus for your garden

    Lupinus argenteus

    aka Silvery Lupine

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    3a-10b

    Size

    Height: 6"-60"

    Width: 10"-60"

    • sun
    • occasional - drought tolerant
    Photo of Lupinus argenteus close-up, flower by Stan Shebs
    View Plant

    Lupinus flavoculatus

    aka Yellow-eyed Lupine, Yelloweyes

    Plant Type

    Annual / Biennial

    Zones

    8a-10b

    Size

    Height: 2"-8"

    Width: 4"-10"

    • sun
    • occasional - drought tolerant
    Photo of Lupinus flavoculatus flower, foliage, form by Stan Shebs
    View Plant

    Lupinus sericatus

    aka Cobb Mountain Lupine

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    8b-10b

    Size

    Height: 6"-20"

    Width: 10"-36"

    • sun - mostly sun
    • occasional - drought tolerant
    • dry in summer
    Photo of Lupinus sericatus flower by Annie's Annuals & Perennials
    View Plant

    More Options

    Lupinus succulentus

    aka Arroyo Lupine, Hollowleaf Annual Lupine,

    Plant Type

    Annual / Biennial

    Zones

    1-11

    Size

    Height: 3'-4'

    Width: 12"

    • sun
    • regular - drought tolerant
    Photo of Lupinus succulentus flower by Annie's Annuals & Perennials
    View Plant

    More Options

    Lupinus microcarpus

    aka Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus, Chick Lupine

    Plant Type

    Annual / Biennial

    Zones

    1-11

    Size

    Height: 12"

    Width: 12"

    • sun
    • regular - low
    Photo of Lupinus microcarpus flower by Annie's Annuals & Perennials
    View Plant
    +53 more Lupinus
    Mailing List
    Sign Up for updates on new plant arrivals and deals

    © 2010—2026 Plant Lust, LLC All Rights Reserved