Lupinus excubitus - Inland Valley Garden Planner

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Description

Grape soda lupine gets its name from its sweet grape-like flower fragrance. It is a small shrubby perennial growing to 2-3 ft. tall and spreads 4 ft. wide with silvery foliage and tall spikes of purple-blue flowers. One of the easiest to grow in gardens for bold spring color value; it often reseeds and generates new seedlings that can be easily removed if desired.

The Grape soda lupine is a colorful flowering perennial that combines well with native plants and in Mediterranean garden plantings. It is adapted to full sun, well drained soils and low amounts of summer water throughout the Inland Empire. Trimming in late fall or winter helps to maintain its size and to renew good foliage character.

Water Needs

The Grape soda lupine is highly adapted to sunny garden locations on well drained soils and with low amounts of supplemental water. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water; more water in the spring will result in a longer flowering season.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 1

	Jan*	Feb*	Mar*	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov*	Dec*
Runs per Month	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x
Inches per Run	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"

Inches per Month	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

0"-2"

Jan*

Feb*

Mar*

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov*

Dec*

For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Perennial, Native
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading
Growth Rate: Fast
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft.
Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.
Water Needs: Low 1
Foliage Color: Pale green, Silvery white
Flower Color: Purple, Blue
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Drought, All day sun
Function: Container plant, California native, Fragrant flowers, Attracts butterflies, Small spaces

Maintenance

Tends to be short lived in most gardens (S). Do not prune into old wood as it will not grow back from cuts in these areas. Dead head spent flower stalks if desired, however the seeds are good bird food (S). Prune into younger branches in late fall or winter to help control size and encourage new foliage growth (4).

References