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Herbaceous Perennial

Thermopsis chinensis

Chinese false lupin

A clump-forming herbaceous perennial to 60cm tall with pea-like, trifoliate leaves. From early spring, unbranched spikes of soft yellow, lupin-like flowers emerging from greyish-purple buds are held above the foliage

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

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)

Botanical details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Thermopsis are lupin-like rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with erect stems, leaves with three leaflets, and yellow or purple flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows best in light, fertile, well-drained, loamy soil in full sun, but tolerates a range of conditions. Usually long-lived, with tough roots that resent disturbance

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back in autumn

Pests

Slugs and aphids may be a problem

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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