Lupinus excubitus
Desert bush lupine, Grape Soda Lupine
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Lupinus excubitus (Desert bush lupine) is a native California shrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by large desert shrub habit and sweet-smelling flowers.
Desert bush lupine is a California native shrub found in desert slopes and washes of the southwestern desert regions at elevations of 1,200 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces violet to lavender flowers 10 to 13 millimeters long with a distinctive bright yellow spot on the banner that turns purple as the flower ages. Growing 1 to 2 meters tall with erect, silver-hairy stems, it forms an upright and densely structured shrub. Its compound leaves have 7 to 9 silver-hairy leaflets, each 5 to 50 millimeters long, arranged on petioles 4 to 10 centimeters in length. The fruit develops as a silky pod 3 to 5 centimeters long, containing 5 to 8 mottled yellow-brown seeds with distinctive lateral lines.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; key features are large desert shrub habit and sweet-smelling flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert slopes, washes
Elevation: (700)1200-2700 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Inyo, Kern, San Diego, San Bernardino, Monterey, Ventura, Riverside, Orange, Sierra, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Siskiyou, Mono, Imperial, Mariposa, San Benito
Bloom period
Lupinus excubitus blooms Apr-Jun.
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 excubitus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus excubitus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus excubitus bloom?
Lupinus excubitus blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Lupinus excubitus grow?
Lupinus excubitus occurs in Los Angeles, Inyo, Kern, San Diego, San Bernardino, Monterey, Ventura, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of (700)1200-2700 m.
What plant family does Lupinus excubitus belong to?
Lupinus excubitus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus excubitus grow in?
Lupinus excubitus grows in Desert slopes, washes.
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.