Lupinus perennis
old maid's bonnets
A clump-forming perennial, 60-80cm high, with palmate leaves of up to 11 leaflets. Whorls of pea-like flowers, usually violet-blue but rarely pink or white, are borne on densely hairy, upright stems from late spring to early summer, followed by hairy green pods of seeds
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
1–2 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Blue Purple Pink White | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Blue Pink Purple White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming, Columnar upright
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Lupinus can be annuals, perennials or shrubs, with palmate leaves and showy terminal racemes of pea-like flowers
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in light, ideally slightly acidic, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. Water well in summer dry spells.
Propagation
Propagate by seed
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Prairie planting
- Wildflower meadow
- Banks and slopes
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Deadhead to encourage more flowers, unless seeds are required
Pests
May be susceptible to lupin aphid, slugs and snails
Diseases
May be susceptible to powdery mildews, lupin anthracnose and virus diseases
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