Lupine Flowers Garden
The foliage resembles palm leaves with seven to ten leaflet segments each.
Lupine flowers garden. The plants do not transplant well because of their long taproot. Gracing the garden in late spring early summer lupinus masterpiece lupine features showy erect spikes of densely packed sweetly scented bright magenta purple flowers with an orange fleck. You can also sow seeds in the spring 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date but your plants will bloom later in the summer. It is best to direct sow lupine seeds in your garden where you want them to grow.
Lupine flowers may be annual and last only for a season or perennial returning for a few years in the same spot in which they were planted. Although rainbow hybrid lupine seed mixes are the most popular commercially available lupine the original blue strain is the hardiest. Sow the seeds liberally and cover with 1 8 inch of soil. Lupine is an herbaceous perennial plant that is mainly grown for its ornamental value as well as for forage crops and garden ground covers.
Perennial lupines flower during their first or second year of growth and will produce blooms from late spring to summer each year. Prepare the planting site by removing all grass weeds and rocks. If planting lupine from seed direct sow in the garden in late fall or early winter for blooms the following spring. As legumes lupins are good companion plants in gardens increasing the soil nitrogen for vegetables and other plants.
In some varieties the flowers are bicolor blossoms that pair a set of white petals with a second set of petals in a primary color creating a layered effect. Lupine lupinus is an unusual looking plant with medium green leaves and long upright flower spikes. The colorful flowers of lupine strut their stuff on erect spires that can reach 4 feet tall. Use a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 20 inches.
The term lupine apparently comes from the latin word for wolf. Plant them in the fall to germinate the following spring. Lupinus polyphyllus the garden lupin and lupinus arboreus the tree lupin are popular ornamental plants in gardens and are the source of numerous hybrids and cultivars in a wide range of colours including bicolors. There is quite an interesting history behind the name of this plant.
The foliage is also worth a second look. Plant container grown plants in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Lupine flowers grow in spiky clusters between 8 and 24 inches 20 to 62 cm tall and attract bees hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. The dense floral spikes of lupines may grace your flower garden in shades of purple pink red white and yellow.