Border lupins

Border lupins produce upright flower spikes in early summer, densely packed with vibrant, pea-like flowers. Colours include white, pink, red, orange, purple and blue, with some combining two colours.

These lupins grow well in most types of soil, as long as they drain easily, but they prefer slightly acidic soil. An open, sunny site is best for flowering and flower colour.

Overly rich soils can lead to weakness in the stems, which then need staking to keep them upright. Plants can rot in prolonged winter wet.

Lupins don't need much feeding, as they have nitrogen-fixing nodules on their roots that capture all the nitrogen they require from the atmosphere.