Approximate seeds per pound: 22,680
Seeding rate: 30 pounds per acre
Botanical Name: Lupinus perennis
Common Name: Wild Perennial Lupine
Type: Perennial. Returns each spring from same roots, forming expanding clump. Blooms second spring from seed.
Color: Blue, sometimes a bit red
Height: Up to 4 ft.
Bloom Time: Early and mid-season
Flower: Spike of sweet-pea-like flowers
Is this wildflower invasive? No
Is this wildflower endangered? No
Is this wildflower edible? No
Is this wildflower medicinal? No
Sun/Shade: Needs full sun.
Soil Preferences: Adaptable, but like all lupines, prefers loose, sandy soil.
Moisture Requirements: Average moisture, well-drained.
Where To Grow It: All regions of North America.
Zones: 3-9
Indigenous To: Most of the US and Canada east of the Mississippi
Germination: 15 - 75 days
Optimum soil temperature for germination: 55F - 70F
Sowing depth: 1/8" - 1/4"

Lupine's flowers stand up in straight clusters, the wings of each blossom folded back at times to slightly resemble a butterfly at rest. The name of the genus is Lupinus, which, interestingly, comes from the Latin word meaning "wolf-like." It is believed that the plant derived this name from early observers who noted that Lupines would grow where there was poor soil. Mistakenly, it was concluded that the Lupines were responsible for the soil depletion in the area and therefore it was supposed that they had a voracious, wolf-like appetite for ground nutrients. In reality, however, it has been found that Lupines do very well in poor soil due to their ability to create high levels of nitrogen. While this flowering plant is highly prominent in North America, species of Lupine grow throughout the world on nearly every continent. Lupines quickly take root and do best in drier soils with high acidity, sand content and drainage.