Lupinus diffusus Nutt.

Oak Ridge Lupine; Blue Sandhill Lupine

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Sky Blue Lupine is a native perennial in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It is native to the southern tier of counties in Alabama. Sky Blue Lupine occurs in xeric (dry) sandy areas such as Longleaf pine forests, scrub-oak woodlands, sandhills, and roadsides. It is a short-lived herbaceous perennial with a deep woody taproot. Stems are up to 2 feet in length and are decumbent but up-turned at the ends. The stems are densely pubescent. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, 1-foliolate, pubescent, and evergreen. The leaves are oblong to elliptic in outline with entire margins. Flowers are produced in terminal racemes. The papilionaceous flowers are light to deep blue in color, with a conspicuous cream spot on the standard petal. The fruit is a pubescent oblong legume with 1-5 seed. Sky Blue Lupine is toxic to livestock if consumed. This species is fairly rare in Alabama, occurring only in open, dry, sandy habitats. It is a fire dependent species, and disappears from areas that are not burned. Because of its deep taproot, Sky Blue Lupine is almost impossible to transplant. The long taproot also makes it difficult to propagate in pots. Occasionally seed are available from some nurseries. They should be planted where they are to grow, as transplanting usually kills the plants, even when they are very small. This species requires full sun and excellent drainage.--A. Diamond

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Native

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