Lupinus arboreus
Coastal bush lupine, Yellow Bush Lupine
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Lupinus arboreus (Coastal bush lupine) is a native California shrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by coastal habitat and yellow flowers diagnostic.
Coastal bush lupine is a California native shrub found in coastal bioregions including the North Coast, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California Coast, and Channel Islands, primarily on coastal bluffs and dunes at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces yellow flowers (occasionally lilac to purple, especially north of central North Coast), with blooms 14 to 18 millimeters long featuring a banner with a darker or white spot. Growing up to 2 meters tall with erect green to silver-hairy stems, it forms an upright, well-structured shrub. Its compound leaves have 5 to 12 leaflets, each 2 to 6 centimeters long, with distinctive stipules 8 to 12 millimeters in length. The fruit develops as a 4 to 7 centimeter pod, turning brown to black and covered in fine hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 39 sympatric species; coastal habitat and yellow flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal bluffs, dunes, or more inland
Elevation: < 100 m
California counties: Humboldt, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, San Mateo, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Los Angeles, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Diego, Sacramento, Marin, Del Norte, Santa Clara, San Bernardino, Madera, San Benito, Solano
Outside California: Baja California, planted and naturalized to southern British Columbia, South America (Argentina, Chile), New Zealand, Australia
Bloom period
Lupinus arboreus blooms Apr-Jul.
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 arboreus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus arboreus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus arboreus bloom?
Lupinus arboreus blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Lupinus arboreus grow?
Lupinus arboreus occurs in Humboldt, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, San Mateo, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of < 100 m.
What plant family does Lupinus arboreus belong to?
Lupinus arboreus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus arboreus grow in?
Lupinus arboreus grows in Coastal bluffs, dunes, or more inland.
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.