Lupinus polyphyllus

species

“Garden Lupin”, “Large-Leaved Lupine”, “Bigleaf Lupine”, “Big-Leaved Lupine”, “Many-Leaved Lupine”

Lupinus polyphyllus is a nitrogen-fixing plant, meaning that it has the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by other plants. This makes it an important species for improving soil fertility and promoting plant growth in disturbed or nutrient-poor habitats.

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Lupinus polyphyllus, also known as the “large-leaved lupine” or “many-leaved lupine”, is a perennial wildflower that is native to western North America. It is found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, forests, and along streambanks. The plant can grow to be about 3-5 feet tall and has showy spikes of blue, purple, pink, or white flowers that bloom in the late spring or early summer. The leaves are large and palmate, meaning that they are divided into several leaflets arranged like the fingers of a hand.

The plant is also used by many wildlife species, including birds and insects, as a food source. The seeds of the plant are a valuable food source for small mammals and birds, and the flowers are also an important nectar source for bees and butterflies.

The plant is also used in ornamental gardening, due to its showy spikes of flowers and attractive leaves. It is often used in wildflower gardens, meadows, and naturalized settings, and is also used as a cut flower.

Is Lupinus polyphyllus invasive?

It is considered to be a non-invasive species in most of its native range. However, in some areas where it has been introduced, it may become invasive and outcompete native plant species.

In some areas, Lupinus polyphyllus has been introduced as a forage crop for livestock or as a soil stabilizer for erosion control, and in those cases, it can spread and establish in natural habitats if not managed properly.

One of the reasons that Lupinus polyphyllus can become invasive is that it is able to fix nitrogen in the soil, which allows it to grow in nutrient-poor soils and outcompete native plants. Additionally, the plant produces a large number of seeds that are able to germinate and establish in a wide range of habitats.

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Lupinus polyphyllus, the large-leaved lupine, big-leaved lupine, many-leaved lupine, blue-pod lupine, or, primarily in cultivation, garden lupin, is a species of lupine (lupin) native to western North America from southern Alaska and British Columbia east to Quebec, and western Wyoming, and south to Utah and California. It commonly grows along streams and creeks, preferring moist habitats. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with stout stems growing to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) tall. The leaves are palmately compound with (5-) 9-17 leaflets 3–15 centimetres (1.2–5.9 in) long. The flowers are produced on a tall spike, each flower 1–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in) long, most commonly blue to purple in wild plants. The flowers are mostly visited by bumblebees. The polyphyllus variety in particular…