Lupinus variicolor

RHS Plant Profile
Lindley's varied lupin

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Lindley's varied lupin visionspictures.com

Other common names

manycoloured lupin

Synonyms

Lupinus versicolor

Herbaceous Perennial

Deciduous, spreading herbaceous plant, sometimes woody at the base, to 50cm tall, forming a mat of mid-green leaves composed of 6-9 leaflets, 3.5cm long with a silvery sheen. Blue and white bicolored flowers, the upper flowers sometimes white and combinations of pink, purple and yellow, appear in short flower spikes, in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Matforming
Potentially harmful
Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets if eaten (dogs, cats, rabbits, tortoises) - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus
Lupinus can be annuals, perennials or shrubs, with palmate leaves and showy terminal racemes of pea-like flowers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
California

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in light and slightly acid, well-drained or sandy soil in full sun. May need staking, see staking perennials. Ideal for container cultivation. See lupin cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed in early to mid-spring or by basal stem cuttings in mid to late spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead to encourage a second flush of flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to lupin aphid, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to lupin anthracnose, Powdery mildews and a virus