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Do Lupines Bloom the First Year?

Lupines (Lupinus spp.) number more than 200 species of plants in the pea family and represent one of the largest groups of flowering plants. Many are native to the United States, where they emerge in spring in pastel colors in gardens and the natural landscape from coast to coast. They are easy to grow and reward gardeners with spectacular flowers, but they are often short-lived perennials. Given a head start, however, lupines will bloom in their first season.

  1. Culture

    • Lupines grow best in moist but well-drained average garden soil in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. While these plants tolerate sand, gravel or soil with acidic pH, they tend to decline in heavy alkaline soil. Even though lupines might flower the first year and seem to be established, they sometimes fail to return the following season. Lupines are even fussier about temperature than soil condition and are grown as annuals in regions where summers are very hot.

    Starting from Seed

    • One of the most rewarding features about lupines is that they are very easy to grow from seed. Because these plants are legumes, they produce large, bean-like seeds that remain viable even after being stored for years in a cool, dry place. If you start plants early from seed, they will germinate in about two weeks and you can expect to enjoy blooms that summer. If you garden in a region where summers are hot, sow lupine seed directly in the garden in October for annual flowering in March or April.

    Seed Preparation

    • Although lupines will sprout from even old seed, germination can sometimes be sluggish due to thick seed coats. One trick gardeners use to speed up the process is to lightly abrade seeds with sandpaper to enhance the moisture penetration. Carefully nicking the seed with nail clippers or soaking them overnight in warm water to soften the coat has the same effect. When planting seeds, sow a few together, spacing plantings 2 to 3 feet apart, then thin to the sturdiest specimen.

    Varieties

    • The most reliable varieties of garden lupines belong to the Russell hybrid series (Lupinus polyphyllus "Russell”), which are hardy to USDA zones 4 through 8 and noted for their variety of flower colors. For example, "Chandlier" lupine sports bright yellow flowers on 3- to 4-foot flower spikes, while "Chatelaine" lupine produces pink and white flowers. "Band of Nobles" lupine features bi-colored blooms that combine creamy whites, blues, purples, reds and pinks.

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