The tall spikes of Southern Lupine's bright yellow flowers are a beautiful sight in spring. Although native to the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia, these clump-forming plants perform beautifully in the Piedmont and coastal plain, where true Lupines don't grow well because of the heat. Cut the foliage back about a month after flowering and it may bloom again in fall. Plant in average moist well-drained soil in full to partial sun. Avoid crowding this plant to prevent fungal disease and water during a drought. It adds bright spring color to the back of the border.
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
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are gray-green and trifoliate with three oval leaflets in each leaf. Leaflets are 2-3” long with hairy lower surfaces. There are large leafy stipules at the base of the leaf stalk.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower shape
Lipped
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Yellow to cream-colored sweet-pea-like flowers in crowded, long and narrow erect clusters 4-18 inches long. Blooms from May to June.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
Seed pods have long shaggy hairs and slit open when dry. Displays from July to September
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern United States
Distribution
AL , CT , GA , MA , ME , NC , NH , NJ , NY , PA , TN , VA , VT , WV