Do You Deadhead Lupines?

Purpose

• Deadheading lupines serves two purposes. First, it encourages blooms all summer long. If you leave the flower heads in place, the plants focus energy on producing seeds rather than blooms. In addition, lupines are notorious for self-sowing if you leave the flowers intact. If you want a casual wildflower garden, you might appreciate this tendency. However, allowing lupines to self-sow might result in plants growing in unwanted places. Hybrid lupines won't grow true from their seed, and you'll likely be disappointed with the results of self-sowing.

Method

• Many perennial flowers are deadheaded by pinching off the spent flower immediately below its growth. Lupines form clusters of flowers on long stalks. To deadhead each flower would be painstakingly laborious. Instead, cut the stem off at ground level once all flowers on that stalk are spent.

Growing Conditions

• Lupines grow best in cool, moist climates, such as those found in the Pacific Northwest and New England. They suffer more disease problems in hot, humid climates. Plant lupines from seed or from transplants in spring. They grow best in slightly acidic, moist, rich soil and full sun to partial shade. Mulch the soil after seedlings emerge with 2 inches of wood chips to conserve moisture and keep the ground cool.

Considerations

• Lupines are legume plants, related to garden peas (Pisum spp.) and beans (Phaseolus spp.). As such, they can fix nitrogen in the soil. Dusting the seeds with a nitrogen-fixing powder before planting them can increase this activity and improve their performance. Lupine seeds are toxic to humans and animals, another good reason to remove flowers before they produce seed.