Lupinus breweri
Brewer's lupine
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Lupinus breweri (Brewer's lupine) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family.
Brewer's lupine is a California native perennial herb found in mountain habitats at elevations typically between 1,000 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces blue to violet flowers with distinctive white or yellow banner spots, arranged in compact inflorescences 1 to 10 centimeters long. Growing as a low, matted perennial less than 20 centimeters tall with a partially woody base and prostrate stems covered in silver-silky hairs, it forms dense tufted clusters. Its leaves are clustered near the base, composed of 5 to 10 small leaflets 3 to 20 millimeters long, creating a delicate, compact appearance. The fruit is a silky pod 1 to 2 centimeters long, containing 3 to 4 mottled tan and brown seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species - geographically isolated
Habitat and range
California counties: Alpine, Plumas, Mono, El Dorado, Tuolumne, San Bernardino, Tulare, Los Angeles, Fresno, Sierra, Ventura, Kern, Mariposa, Nevada, Siskiyou, Lassen, Inyo, Madera, Calaveras, Placer, Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Monterey, Riverside
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 breweri native to California?
Yes. Lupinus breweri is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Lupinus breweri grow?
Lupinus breweri occurs in Alpine, Plumas, Mono, El Dorado, Tuolumne, San Bernardino, Tulare, Los Angeles and other counties.
What plant family does Lupinus breweri belong to?
Lupinus breweri is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
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.