Preferences:

For the most part these are primarily Horticultural perennials. They grow 3' tall and have an erect habit. They prefer Full sun or partial shade in cool moist areas, likes acid soil.

Cultural Practices:

Propagation: Scarify the seeds or soak overnight. sow seeds at 14C to 20C for about 30 days.

Cultivation: Lupines are short lived plants that grow very well from seed. If you have a particularly bad winter you will often loose all of your plants. It is important to leave at least one or two stalks to go black in the summer and then drop their seed. What is cool to the budding plant breeder is to get different colours of plants. These plant will in turn cross pollinate and produce a colour next year which is completely different from anyone else.

Disease: Aphids love this plant especially if it is in any shade. Best thing to do is squish them regularly with your fingers, otherwise, hose them down with water or spray with a pesticide.

Landscape Value:

There are many new varieties. One is the famed Blue Lupine which is phenomenal in British Columbia and an exciting surprise in the Rocky Mountains. But strangely difficult to grow on the prairies. It lasts a couple of years and then dies out.

Combination: Even with all of the aphids this is a standard in my design repertoire. I like to mix and match with Delphiniums, Heuchera, Geranium, Painted Daisy, and Thalictrum.