Arroyo Lupine

Arroyo Lupine is an annual herb, which grows up to a meter in height. The plant’s characteristic lupine leaves are palmately compounded with 7 to 9 leaflets. Each dark green leaflet is up to 6 cm long and is smooth. On the fleshy stems grow erect, loose whorls of flowers, generally a purplish-blue in color with white or pink banner patches. The hairy legume pod is up to 5 cm long and 1 cm wide.

Basic Information

• Member of the Fabaceae, or pea family

• Annual herb

Habitat

• Native to most of California, as well as adjacent sections of Arizona and Baja California

• Common in open and disturbed places, such as meadows, grasslands, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, open oak woodlands, and roadsides

Ecological Role

• Frequented by native bees, bumble bees, butterflies (particularly the Glaucopsyche piasus, which is hosted by the plant), and hummingbirds that rely on the plant for pollen and nectar

Reproduction

• Blooms from February-May

Alternative Names

• Hollowleaf Annual Lupine, succulent lupine

Historical Uses

• The Pomo Kashaya used the flowers ceremonially in wreaths for the Flower Dance during the Strawberry Festival in May