Photo of Lupinus albifrons flower by The Watershed Nursery

Photo by The Watershed Nursery

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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.
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
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 .
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.
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
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