Lupinus croceus
Mount eddy lupine
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus croceus (Mount eddy lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by bright yellow flowers and relatively glabrous appearance.
Mount eddy lupine is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and California Ranges in rocky dry places, yellow pine and fir forests, and montane chaparral at elevations of 900 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces bright yellow to orange-yellow flowers 12 to 15 millimeters long in whorled clusters. Growing 40 to 60 centimeters tall with erect green stems that are glabrous to sparsely hairy, it forms an upright perennial herb. Its leaves have 5 to 9 leaflets, each 30 to 60 millimeters long, with stipules 4 to 10 millimeters in length. The fruit is a hairy pod 2 to 3.5 centimeters long, containing 3 to 5 mottled tan seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; key features are bright yellow flowers and relatively glabrous appearance
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky dry places, yellow pine and fir forests, montane chaparral
Elevation: 900-2700 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Lassen, Trinity, Shasta
Bloom period
Lupinus croceus blooms May-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 croceus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus croceus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus croceus bloom?
Lupinus croceus blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Lupinus croceus grow?
Lupinus croceus occurs in Siskiyou, Lassen, Trinity, Shasta, at elevations of 900-2700 m.
What plant family does Lupinus croceus belong to?
Lupinus croceus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus croceus grow in?
Lupinus croceus grows in Rocky dry places, yellow pine and fir forests, montane chaparral.
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.