Lupinus diffusus
Photo by Shirley Denton. Photograph belongs to the photographer who allows use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 8A 8B 9A 9B
2002-2022, Copyright Florida Native Plant Society
Sky Blue Lupine
Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Plant Specifics
| Size: | 2.5-3.5 ft tall by 1-3 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Biennial | |
| Flower Color: | Blue, lavender | |
| Fruit Color: | Green | |
| Phenology: | Naturally sprouts in autumn and blooms the following year in mid-spring. | |
| Habitats: |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Wildflower garden where it can be used as a specimen plant. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| Moisture Tolerance: | Short very dry periods ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray Tolerance: | Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil/Substrate: | Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wildlife
- Larval host for frosted elfin (Callophyris irus) butterfly, which is listed as Endangered in Florida.
- Also larval host for gray hairstreak (Strymon melinis) butterfly, Genista broom moth (Uresiphita reversalis)a nd other butterflies and moths that use members of the Fabaceae family (FNPS blog).
- Attracts bees including bumblebees. Documented visitors include Anthidiellum notatum rufimaculatum, A. perplexum, Megachile exilis parexilis, Osmia sp. and Bombus griseocollis (Deyrup et al. 2002).