Lupinus benthamii
Spider lupine, Spider Lupine
(c) Ryan Donnelly, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus benthamii (Spider lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by linear leaflets are uniquely narrow.
Spider lupine is a California native annual found in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi area, deltaic Great Valley, and southern Coast Ranges on rocky slopes and open areas at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces bright blue flowers with a white banner spot that turns magenta with age, arranged in spiraled clusters 6 to 30 centimeters long. Growing 20 to 70 centimeters tall with short-appressed and long-spreading hairs, it has an upright, branching form. Its leaves have 7 to 10 narrow linear leaflets, each 20 to 50 millimeters long and smooth on the upper surface. The fruit is a coarsely hairy pod approximately 3 centimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 31 sympatric species; linear leaflets are uniquely narrow
Habitat and range
Habitat: Locally common. Rocky slopes, open areas
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Placer, Kern, Tulare, Monterey, Los Angeles, Calaveras, Inyo, El Dorado, Yuba, Fresno, Santa Barbara, Madera, Sacramento, Amador, Sutter, Nevada, Solano, Mariposa, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Contra Costa, Yolo, Merced, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Diego
Bloom period
Lupinus benthamii blooms Mar-May.
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 benthamii native to California?
Yes. Lupinus benthamii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus benthamii bloom?
Lupinus benthamii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Lupinus benthamii grow?
Lupinus benthamii occurs in Placer, Kern, Tulare, Monterey, Los Angeles, Calaveras, Inyo, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Lupinus benthamii belong to?
Lupinus benthamii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus benthamii grow in?
Lupinus benthamii grows in Locally common. Rocky slopes, open areas.
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.