Lupinus concinnus
Bajada lupine
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus concinnus (Bajada lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by small annual habit, persistent bracts, and disturbed habitat preference.
Bajada lupine is a California native annual herb found in southern Sierra Nevada, central and western California, southwestern California, and desert regions in open or disturbed areas, burns, and lava caps at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces pink to purple flowers with a white or pale yellow banner spot, typically 5 to 12 millimeters long. Growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall with decumbent or erect hairy stems, it has a distinctive spreading form. Its compound leaves feature 5 to 9 narrow leaflets, each 10 to 30 millimeters long and 1.5 to 8 millimeters wide, arranged along slender leaf stalks 2 to 7 centimeters long. The fruit is a hairy pod 1 to 1.5 centimeters long containing 3 to 5 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 78 sympatric species; key features are small annual habit, persistent bracts, and disturbed habitat preference
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open or disturbed areas, burns, lava caps, many plant communities
Elevation: < 1700 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Inyo, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Riverside, Monterey, Imperial, Tulare, Orange, Tehama, Alameda, El Dorado, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Tuolumne, San Benito, Madera, Glenn, Plumas
Outside California: to Utah, Texas, Baja California
Bloom period
Lupinus concinnus 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 concinnus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus concinnus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus concinnus bloom?
Lupinus concinnus blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Lupinus concinnus grow?
Lupinus concinnus occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Inyo, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of < 1700 m.
What plant family does Lupinus concinnus belong to?
Lupinus concinnus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus concinnus grow in?
Lupinus concinnus grows in Common. Open or disturbed areas, burns, lava caps, many plant communities.
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.