Lupinus arbustus
Spurred lupine, Spur Lupine
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Lupinus arbustus (Spurred lupine) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by calyx spur is unique diagnostic feature.
Spurred lupine is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Great Basin, and southern California mountains in open sagebrush scrub and mixed-conifer forest at elevations of 1,500 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces blue, purple, pink, white, or pale yellow flowers with a distinctive white or yellow spot on the banner petal. Growing 20 to 70 centimeters tall with erect green or gray-silky stems, it develops an open branching structure with whorled flower clusters. Its leaves feature 7 to 13 leaflets that are 20 to 70 millimeters long, strigose on the upper surface, with prominent stipules 4 to 9 millimeters long. The plant produces silky fruits 2 to 3 centimeters long, containing 3 to 6 tan seeds 5 to 6 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 75 sympatric species; calyx spur is unique diagnostic feature
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open sagebrush scrub, mixed-conifer forest
Elevation: 1500-3000 m
California counties: Alpine, Mono, Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, Siskiyou, Ventura, Butte, Placer, Modoc, El Dorado, Nevada, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Tuolumne, Shasta, Mariposa, Tehama
Outside California: to Washington, Montana, Idaho, Utah
Bloom period
Lupinus arbustus 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 arbustus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus arbustus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus arbustus bloom?
Lupinus arbustus blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Lupinus arbustus grow?
Lupinus arbustus occurs in Alpine, Mono, Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, Siskiyou, Ventura, Butte and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3000 m.
What plant family does Lupinus arbustus belong to?
Lupinus arbustus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus arbustus grow in?
Lupinus arbustus grows in Open sagebrush scrub, mixed-conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lupinus argenteus — Silvery lupine
- Lupinus argenteus var. argenteus — Silvery lupine
- Lupinus argenteus var. heteranthus — Silver spurred lupine
- Lupinus argenteus var. meionanthus — Small flowered sierran lupine
- Lupinus argenteus var. montigenus — Long petioled silver lupine
- Lupinus argenteus var. palmeri — Palmer's 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.