Skyblue Lupine is a beautiful, flowering, herbaceous perennial in the bean family. Native habitats include scrub, coastal strands, sandhills and pine flat woods of the south east. Here in North Carolina, it only grows in the southern coastal and coastal plains areas. It is an ornamental plant with lovely pea-like blue flowers in early spring with hairy velvety leaves. Skyblue Lupine does best in sandy, slightly acidic, dry, well-drained soils in full sun. While full sun encourages the best flowering, the plants appreciate some light afternoon shade in hot summer areas. Plants grow well in the cool summers, but in the heat and humidity of USDA Zones 7 through 9, it may be best to grow them as annuals. It can be a finicky plant to grow, but full sun and well-drained sandy soil are essential. Seeds can lie dormant for years, waiting for just the right conditions to germinate. However, It is very difficult to transplant due to a deep taproot and it doesn't like being moved at all. This makes it very difficult for commercial growers as the seeds do not like being started in pots. So it may be best to just enjoy it in its native habitat and help preserve that habitat. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Powdery mildew can be a problem, but good air circulation helps. More information on Lupinus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Undivided, elliptic green leaves, 4 inches by 2 inches, with many fine white hairs.
Flower color
Blue; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower shape
Lipped
Flower detail
Blue pea-like flower with a white spot on the upper petal and 2 lower petals that are fused. The flowers are borne on dense spikes. Blooms from March to May.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit detail
Fruit an elongated, flattened pod. Displays from June to July.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
South Eastern United States
Distribution
North Carolina south to Florida and west to Mississippi.
Wildlife value
The gray hairstreak butterfly will use it as a host plant. It is a special value to bumble bees.