Lupinus breweri var. breweri
Brewer's lupine
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Lupinus breweri var. breweri (Brewer's lupine) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by prostrate habit, flower/leaflet size.
Brewer's lupine is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, and Great Basin in open montane forests and alpine areas at elevations of 1,000 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces small flowers in compact clusters 1 to 2 centimeters long. Growing as a prostrate, mat-forming perennial with a below-ground caudex, it spreads low across mountain terrain with distinctive branching habit. Its leaves feature 6 to 20 millimeter leaflets arranged in a delicate, compact pattern. The plant's flowers, measuring 6 to 9 millimeters long, have a glabrous keel and banner, creating a subtle yet intricate alpine wildflower appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 83 sympatric species; key features are prostrate habit, flower/leaflet size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Generally open montane forest; subalpine to alpine
Elevation: 1000-4000 m
California counties: Mono, Mariposa, Ventura, Siskiyou, Plumas, Sierra, Tuolumne, Nevada, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Lassen, Tulare, Alpine, Placer, Inyo, Los Angeles, Madera, Trinity, San Bernardino, Kern
Outside California: southern Oregon, western Nevada
Bloom period
Lupinus breweri var. breweri blooms Jun-Aug.
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 var. breweri native to California?
Yes. Lupinus breweri var. breweri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus breweri var. breweri bloom?
Lupinus breweri var. breweri blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Lupinus breweri var. breweri grow?
Lupinus breweri var. breweri occurs in Mono, Mariposa, Ventura, Siskiyou, Plumas, Sierra, Tuolumne, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 1000-4000 m.
What plant family does Lupinus breweri var. breweri belong to?
Lupinus breweri var. breweri is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus breweri var. breweri grow in?
Lupinus breweri var. breweri grows in Common. Generally open montane forest; subalpine to alpine.
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.