Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Lupinus argenteus var. palmeri
Other common names
Palmer's lupine
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12 to 18 inches
Riparian
No
A hairy and several stemmed plant. Its purplish-blue, pea-like flowers have a white center and occur in terminal spike-like flower heads.
Long-stemmed basal leaves usually present during blooming. Leaflets have silky, long, soft, slender, somewhat appressed hairs above. The longer hairs of stems spreading. Purplish-blue and white flowers are on short branches on spike-like flower heads.
Habitat
Dry, rocky pine forests in part shade, mostly in pine forests.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
Pea-like flowers, 1/3 inch long, have a white center in the banner petal and occur in terminal spike-like flower heads that are 2 to 8 inches long. The flowers bloom from the bottom up.
Flower color
Purplish-blue
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are palmately divided; leaflets are 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long, less than 1/3 inch wide. Long-petioled basal leaves are often present during blooming.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Palmate
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
3/4 inch long; oval and flat; covered with short fuzzy hairs.
Fruit type
Pod
Fruit color
Green turning to tan