How to grow Lupin

Lupinus

Keep moist during germination. Water when they look a bit droopy.

Lupins may need staking although more modern varieties are more dwarf in character.
Remove old flower spikes as the flowers fade to conserve the plant’s energy and encourage further blooms

Lupins can also be grown by careful division of mature plants in the spring or by basal cuttings in the spring taken with a small portion of root tissue, strike into vermiculite to reduce the risk of rot.

Growing Lupin from seed

Cover lightly and press down to ensure good contact with soil. Sow seeds in autumn and winter (frost free areas), or late summer and autumn in areas prone to frost. Sow directly into flower beds.
Alternatively, soak the seeds for 24 hours in water and sow into pots or modules in spring , summer or autumn, growing on in sheltered conditions

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 11.7 inches (30.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.2 inches (0.5 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 10°C / 50°F to ensure good germination.

Transplanting Lupin

Thin out at 5cm (2") height to 30×30 cm apart.

When pot grown seedlings are large enough plant out in late summer or after over wintering under protection in the spring after all danger of frost has past.

Lupins require a bright sunny spot in the centre to the back of the border in well drained slightly acidic soil conditions

As Lupin is hardy, ensure temperatures are mild enough to plant out - wait until after your last frost date to be on the safe side.

Harvesting Lupin

Lupins are used as cut flowers and are best picked when the bottom third of the flower spike has opened
Some lupins are used as green manure as bacteria in the root nodules can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere.
They can also be used as animal feed an lupin flour is used in food production, however care must be taken lupins can also contain toxins

Seed Saving Lupin

Allow a few seeds to grow to maturity on the flower spike and harvest as the pod turns brown dry and crispy. Collect into a paper bag and continue to dry on a warm windowsill until the pod twists open to release the seeds
Seeds store well and are long lived, but may not show characteristics of the parent plant if openly pollenated.

How long does Lupin take to grow?

These estimates for how long Lupin takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Lupin to germinate?
28 days

Average 28 days | Min 4 days | Max 106 days (22)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Lupin?
+ 30 days

Average 30 days | Min 12 days | Max 71 days (4)

Days to Maturity How long until Lupin is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ 371 days

Average 371 days | Min 372 days | Max 372 days (1)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Lupin?
= 429 days

Lupin Folklore & Trivia

Russell-type lupins were bred by George Russell at the beginning of the 20th centuray

Other names for Lupin

Lupine, Russell lupine, bluebonnets, quaker bonnets

Lupinus L.

Footnotes

1 http://funflowerfacts.com/2013/07/03/fun-flower-facts-lupine-lupinus/


< Previous Plant Guide

Common Foxglove

Next Plant Guide >

Euonymus