Lupinus croceus var. pilosellus
saffron-flowered lupine
Photo: parent species Lupinus croceus · (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Lupinus croceus var. pilosellus (saffron-flowered lupine) is a California herb in the Fabaceae family.
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Identification and appearance
Key characters: Differentiators are not available at this time.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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
What plant family does Lupinus croceus var. pilosellus belong to?
Lupinus croceus var. pilosellus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
Is Lupinus croceus var. pilosellus rare or endangered?
Lupinus croceus var. pilosellus carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.