Lupinus albifrons var. medius

Mountain springs lupine, Mountain Springs Bush Lupine

Family: Fabaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Mountain springs lupine is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in southwestern Desert Sonoran regions in desert washes, creosote bush scrub, and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces blue to purple flowers in compact clusters 3 to 14 centimeters long. Growing as a subshrub less than 70 centimeters tall, it is characterized by its striking silver-tomentose (densely woolly) foliage. Its leaves feature elongated petioles generally over 12 centimeters long, with distinctive silvery-white surfaces that provide excellent adaptation to arid desert environments. The compact, silvery shrub offers a stunning visual contrast in its harsh desert habitat, with flowers emerging in early spring.

Habitat: Desert washes, creosote bush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland

Bloom period: Mar-Apr

Elevation: < 2000 m

Bioregions: sw DSon.

California counties: Imperial, San Diego

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.