Lupinus albifrons var. collinus
Low-growing silver lupine
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Lupinus albifrons var. collinus (Low-growing silver lupine) is a native California shrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by prostrate growth form.
Low-growing silver lupine is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, Sierra Nevada foothills, and central western California in cliff and forest opening habitats at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces silvery-white to purple flowers approximately 10 to 15 millimeters long with a banner back often covered with fine hairs. Growing as a subshrub with a slightly woody base, it spreads prostrate to decumbent, reaching 20 to 40 centimeters tall with silvery-appressed foliage. Its compound leaves are clustered near the base, featuring 6 to 9 leaflets each 10 to 20 millimeters long, with distinctive silvery-green coloration. The plant's inflorescence extends 4 to 14 centimeters with a peduncle 6 to 10 centimeters long, creating a delicate, clustered flowering structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 63 sympatric species; prostrate growth form is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Cliffs, forest openings
Elevation: < 2000 m
California counties: El Dorado, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Los Angeles, Tulare, San Francisco, Lake, Monterey, San Diego, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Colusa, Mendocino, Marin, Tehama, Glenn, Alameda, Santa Barbara, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Shasta, Kern, Trinity, Nevada, Placer, Yuba, Calaveras, Amador, Butte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Napa, Plumas, Ventura, Santa Cruz
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Lupinus albifrons var. collinus blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Lupine has pea flowers and palmate leaves; sage has tubular two-lipped flowers and opposite leaves.; vs Artemisia: Lupine has large showy flower spikes; sagebrush has tiny inconspicuous flowers and silvery aromatic foliage.; vs Thermopsis: Lupine typically has 7-11 leaflets; false lupine has exactly 3 leaflets and bright yellow flowers.; vs Delphinium: Lupine has pea flowers; larkspur has flowers with prominent backward-pointing spur.; vs Vicia: Lupine is upright with palmate leaves; vetch is climbing with pinnate leaves and tendrils.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lupinus albifrons var. collinus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus albifrons var. collinus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus albifrons var. collinus bloom?
Lupinus albifrons var. collinus blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Lupinus albifrons var. collinus grow?
Lupinus albifrons var. collinus occurs in El Dorado, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Los Angeles, Tulare, San Francisco, Lake, Monterey and other counties, at elevations of < 2000 m.
What plant family does Lupinus albifrons var. collinus belong to?
Lupinus albifrons var. collinus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus albifrons var. collinus grow in?
Lupinus albifrons var. collinus grows in Cliffs, forest openings.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lupinus albifrons var. douglasii — Long-bracted silver lupine
- Lupinus albifrons var. hallii — Hall's bush lupine
- Lupinus albifrons var. johnstonii — Johnston's silver lupine
- Lupinus albifrons var. medius — Mountain springs lupine
- Lupinus andersonii — Anderson's lupine
- Lupinus angustiflorus — Narrow flowered lupine
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.