FNPS Plant Database

Lupinus perrenis

sundial lupine
  • Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

sundial lupine

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Lupinus perrenis

Family:

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

2.5 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

purple, lavender

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Winter dormant, blooms in spring

Noted For:

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower garden, formal garden

Considerations:

foliage and seeds have toxic properties, primarily due to the lupine alkaloids

Availability:

Propagation:

Seed, they may need to be stratified. Division of rhizomes.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□

Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Soil or Other Substrate:

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
Click a county The county name will appear here.
No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars



  • Larval host for several butterflies.


  • Attracts bees including bumblebees. 


Native Habitats:

Open, sandy woods. Adapted to fire.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

It can be difficult to maintain habitat for this plant.  Keeping the competition down seems to be critical (mow, burn, etc.).



We know of no Florida nursery carrying this. 

Citations:

Plant Delights Nursery. (Undated). Learn about Lupinus perennis , Sundial Lupine. ( https://www.plantdelights.com/products/lupinus-perennis ). Accessed 2026.


Wikipedia. (2015-2025). Lupinus perennis. (a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupinus_perennis" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupinus_perennis). Accessed 2026.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

Beta testing new plant sheet (there may be errors):
FNPS Plant Print

Request an update