How to Grow and Care for Lupines

While it is cultivated as a garden flower in many places, the garden lupine is considered an invasive species in others. As a garden plant, the garden lupine is commonly used to attract bees and retain nitrogen in the soil. But in New Zealand, Argentina, and various countries in Europe, garden lupine are grown invasively and causing many ecological problems.

Texas bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) is a flowering plant native to Mexico and Texas in the United States. Texas bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas and found in the wild in various mutations exhibiting other colors besides blue. This species is often planted for ornamental purposes.

Cultivated for more than 6000 years, narrow-leaved lupin, or Lupinus angustifolius, has been grown as fodder for livestock, as green manure, and even for human consumption. Narrow-leaved lupin is grown and harvested in a manner similar to cereal grains. It is also a nitrogen fixer for poor soils.

Native to California and parts of Arizona in the United States, as well as Mexico's Baja California, the arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus) grows freely in open areas and alongside roads. To help it survive in dry areas, its leaves are shaped to collect water from rain or fog and direct it to the roots. Its vigorous roots make it useful for land reclamation and bank stabilization.

Silver lupine (Lupinus albifrons) is a perennial shrub lupine species native to the western coast of the United States. The silver lupine grows along the coastline, in forests, meadows, and prairies. This plant grows best in well-drained soil when it has an established root system. It is cultivated as a wildflower.