Introducing...
Tree lupins
Botanical name: Lupinus arboreus
Common name: tree lupin
Tree lupins are usually short-lived but fast-growing woody plants with silky-textured, grey-green, usually evergreen leaves and typical lupin flowers. You can combine them with other sun-loving shrubs, such as lavender, rosemary and cistus.
They grow well in gravel gardens and are good for coastal situations where they are able to cope with the salty air and windy conditions .
Looks
Tree lupins are bushy plants with woody stems topped by spikes of fragrant, creamy-yellow (or sometimes blue or white) flowers in late spring and summer. They usually keep their leaves over winter.
Likes
These woody lupins are happy in light, sandy soils that drain easily, preferably with slightly acidic conditions. They also like full sun.
Dislikes
They hate heavy, wet soils, and growth may be poor on chalky (alkaline) soils. They do not fare well in shade.
Did you know?
Although commonly known as tree lupins these plants are actually shrubby in character and make rounded plants up to about 2m (6⅔ft) tall and wide.
Growing guide
How to grow lupins
All the information you'll need to grow and care for lupins in your garden.
Tree lupins we recommend
Lupinus arboreus blue-flowered
- 1.5–2.5 metres
- 1–1.5 metres
Lupinus arboreus blue-flowered
- 1.5–2.5 metres
- 1–1.5 metres
Useful advice
Drought-resistant gardening
Front gardens: design inspiration
Gravel gardens
Plants for coastal areas
Shrubs: evergreen by size
Shrubs: evergreen for specific situations
Trees and shrubs: establishment problems
Trees and shrubs: planting
Get involved
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