Lupinus angustiflorus
Narrow flowered lupine
(c) Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus angustiflorus (Narrow flowered lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by yellow/orange flowers.
Narrow flowered lupine is a California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains, eastern Great Basin, and Cascade Range in yellow pine to subalpine forests and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,000 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces pale yellow to orange-yellow flowers occasionally white, with an orange to yellow spot on the banner and pale lavender keel tips. Growing 5 to 12 decimeters tall with erect green stems that are glabrous to hairy, it develops an open inflorescence 6 to 34 centimeters long. Its leaves have 6 to 9 leaflets, each 20 to 60 millimeters long, with stipules 5 to 13 millimeters in length. The fruit is a hairy pod 2.5 to 4 centimeters long, containing speckled tan and brown seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 51 sympatric species; yellow/orange flowers are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally volcanic soils, yellow pine to subalpine forests, sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1000-3500 m
California counties: Mono, Alpine, Butte, Shasta, Siskiyou, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Plumas, Lassen, Nevada, Sierra, Tehama, Modoc
Bloom period
Lupinus angustiflorus blooms Jun-Sep.
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 angustiflorus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus angustiflorus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus angustiflorus bloom?
Lupinus angustiflorus blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Lupinus angustiflorus grow?
Lupinus angustiflorus occurs in Mono, Alpine, Butte, Shasta, Siskiyou, Placer, El Dorado, Amador and other counties, at elevations of 1000-3500 m.
What plant family does Lupinus angustiflorus belong to?
Lupinus angustiflorus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus angustiflorus grow in?
Lupinus angustiflorus grows in Generally volcanic soils, yellow pine to subalpine forests, sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.