Lupinus antoninus
Anthony peak lupine, Anthony Peak Lupine
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Lupinus antoninus (Anthony peak lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by very restricted range aids identification.
Anthony peak lupine is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the North Coast Ranges Highlands near Anthony Peak in Mendocino County in open fir forest at elevations around 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white to yellowish flowers with tawny banner spots in open spiraled clusters 4 to 20 centimeters long. Growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with erect stems densely covered in gray to silver hairs, it forms an upright herbaceous habit. Its palmate leaves have 6 to 7 leaflets, each 15 to 25 millimeters long, arranged on petioles 1 to 2 centimeters in length. The fruit is a silky pod 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters long containing 4 to 5 mottled brown seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 24 sympatric species; very restricted range aids identification
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open fir forest
Elevation: +- 2000 m.
Bloom period
Lupinus antoninus blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 antoninus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus antoninus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus antoninus bloom?
Lupinus antoninus blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Lupinus antoninus belong to?
Lupinus antoninus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
Is Lupinus antoninus rare or endangered?
Lupinus antoninus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Lupinus antoninus grow in?
Lupinus antoninus grows in Open fir forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.