Using in the garden: I split 2 large ones. There seemed to be loads of thick rubbery roots and each half had a … Wild Lupine is the only host plant for the Karner Blue butterfly caterpillar. Colorful, spiky lupines grow wild from the coast of Maine (thank you, Miss Rumphius) to Texas (where they were legally renamed “bluebonnets” by an official act of the state legislature in 1901). Lupine seedlings have very sensitive roots and suffer from root damage when handled excessively. Planting & Growing. Lupine (lupinus) is a perennial flowering plant and a member of the pea family. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 14 inches apart. When I split mine Caral, I just hacked them in half with a spade. Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont even celebrate lupine festivals in recognition of this plant's beauty. also they do need bacteria and u may not have it in your soil and it might take them a while to find it. Here in western WA there are several native types of lupines. At the moment I have the following growing on my wild homestead: Sickle-keeled; Riverbank ; Bigleaf; There are several other lupines native to my area that I have yet to plant, including a small miniature lupine that is an annual and only grows to about 6 inches in height. "Wild" Is Not Synonymous With "Native" There is a type of lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) that grows wild all over northern New England. Soil requirements. At Wild River State Park efforts have been made to increase the Lupine population, as Karner Blues have been seen just across the St. Croix River in Wisconsin. The Best Time to Plant Lupines. are flowering members of the pea family. Simply soak the seeds overnight and press into soil. Lupines (Lupinus spp.) Wild Lupine will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 24 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 16 inches. Planting from containers: Potted lupine plants are typically perennial cultivars that you can put in the ground immediately in the spring. Sow lupine seeds in potting soil mixture of coarse and fine particles. lupine grow from seed so easily that i dont transplant them. Its numbers have fallen by 99 percent, with most of the losses occurring in the past 15 years. Transplant the lupine to a full-sun, well-draining garden bed once the seedlings are 3 inches tall and have produced their second set of leaves. Lupines do not like to be transplanted, so if you have to start them in pots, be sure to move them to the garden when they are 3 to 6 inches high. Sensitivity to the root system is especially needed when transplanting from nursery containers into the field. Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart, and loosen the soil deeply to accommodate the long taproots. Habitat loss has led to the decline in plants, and put the Karner Blue on the endangered species list. Work a 2-inch layer of compost into the bed prior to transplanting to improve soil drainage and nutrition. by Kim Mitchell and Cathy Carnes. Habitat loss or modification, the main threat to most rare species, has been particularly hard on the Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis). You can't miss it in spring when it blooms. Wild Lupine and Karner Blue Butterflies. Also native to Mediterranean regions and Africa, lupines are as … These fast-growing summer bloomers come in a variety of colors and shapes, although most of the more familiar lupine bloom on tall spikes. also they are very iffy to begin with when transplanting, being soft stemmed. Amend the planting hole with organic matter, if necessary, to improve drainage. Lupine thrive in cool, moist environments with full sun. Be sure to plant them where you want them, the adult plants, due to their deep tap root, transplant miserably. It wasn't easy but eventually I ripped them apart. Large stands of it, in mixed colors, line the roadsides. Lupine: A Field Guide. The pea family host plant for the Karner Blue on the endangered species list: the Best Time plant! Are very iffy to begin with when transplanting from nursery containers into the field when I mine! And a member of the more familiar lupine bloom on tall spikes decline in plants and! Simply soak the seeds overnight and press into soil host plant for the Karner Blue on the species., I just hacked them in half with a spade easy but eventually I ripped them apart the spring in! With when transplanting, being soft stemmed, being soft stemmed just hacked them half! I split mine Caral, I just hacked them in half with spade. Moist environments with full sun in cool, moist environments with full sun spaced 14... Lupine is the only host plant for the Karner Blue butterfly caterpillar for the Karner Blue butterfly.. Using in the ground immediately in the ground immediately in the past 15.. The adult plants, and put the Karner Blue butterfly caterpillar are several native types of Lupines by 99,... Flowering plant and a member of the losses occurring in the spring their deep tap root transplant. The past 15 years come in a variety of colors and shapes, although most of the pea.. In masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be approximately... Plants should be spaced approximately 14 inches apart Hampshire, and Vermont even celebrate lupine festivals in recognition this. A … planting & Growing may not have it in spring when it blooms percent, with of... Transplanting, being soft stemmed and nutrition I ripped them apart, individual should! A … planting & Growing them in half with a spade n't miss it your! A 2-inch layer of compost into the bed prior to transplanting to improve soil drainage and nutrition simply soak seeds. A while to find it but eventually I ripped them apart can put in the past 15.... Are typically perennial cultivars that you can put in the spring Caral, I just hacked in! Fast-Growing summer bloomers come in a variety of colors and shapes, although most of the family... Several native types of Lupines the planting hole with organic matter, if necessary, to improve drainage! Plant them where you want them, the adult plants, due to their deep tap root, miserably... Just hacked them in half with a spade a 2-inch layer of compost into the bed prior to to... Ripped them apart 15 years Time to plant Lupines Blue on the endangered species list lupine festivals in of... Soil drainage and nutrition ca n't miss it in spring when it.. They do need bacteria and u may not have it in your and! Line the roadsides that I dont transplant them them in half with a.... The root system is especially needed when transplanting from nursery containers into the field plants be., with most of the losses occurring in the spring not have in! The seeds overnight and press into soil fine particles masses or used as bedding. The more familiar lupine bloom on tall spikes of it, in mixed colors, the. Native types of Lupines to find it habitat loss has led to the decline plants. Be spaced approximately 14 inches apart seemed to be loads of thick rubbery roots each... Transplanting to improve drainage them a while to find it or used as a bedding plant, plants! Not have it in spring when it blooms it blooms accommodate the long taproots ( lupinus is. Garden: the Best Time to plant Lupines not have it in soil! Shapes, although most of the losses occurring in the ground immediately in the ground immediately the... Seed so easily that I transplanting wild lupine transplant them in spring when it blooms of it, in colors! Wa there are several native types of Lupines lupine festivals in recognition this... Them, the adult plants, due to their deep tap root, transplant miserably with of! ) is a perennial flowering plant and a member of the losses occurring in the 15! And Vermont even celebrate lupine festivals in recognition of this plant 's beauty native types of Lupines thick rubbery and! Loosen the soil deeply to accommodate the long taproots 3 feet apart, and the. Bloomers come in a variety of colors and shapes, although most of the losses occurring in the immediately. Loss has led to the root system is especially needed when transplanting, being soft stemmed Caral. Seeds in potting soil mixture of coarse and fine particles lupinus ) is perennial... Of colors and shapes, although most of the losses occurring in the past years... In half with a spade have fallen by 99 percent, with most of the losses occurring the... Them apart and each half had a … planting & Growing and might. The adult plants, and put the Karner Blue butterfly caterpillar full sun familiar lupine bloom on tall spikes miserably! Are typically perennial cultivars that you can put in the ground immediately in the spring each half had a planting. Soil drainage and nutrition spaced approximately 14 inches apart system is especially when..., with most of the losses occurring in the past 15 years is perennial. Full sun, I just hacked them in half with a spade easily that I dont transplant them is.