Lupinus gracilentus
Slender lupine, Slender Lupine
Dean Wm. Taylor (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Lupinus gracilentus (Slender lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by very narrow leaflets.
Slender lupine is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains, including Rock Creek, Inyo, and Mono counties to Yosemite National Park, in subalpine forest and open moist sites at elevations of 2,500 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces distinctive blue flowers with a white to pale yellow banner spot, typically 8 to 18 millimeters long. Growing 20 to 80 centimeters tall with an erect green stem that is puberulent to hairy, it develops a robust perennial form. Its compound leaves feature 5 to 8 leaflets, each 35 to 80 millimeters long and quite narrow at 2 to 5 millimeters wide, with lower leaf stalks measuring up to 14 centimeters. The fruit is a densely hairy pod reaching 2 to 3 centimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 43 sympatric species; key feature is very narrow leaflets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open moist sites, Subalpine forest
Elevation: 2500-3500 m
Bloom period
Lupinus gracilentus blooms Jul-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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
Is Lupinus gracilentus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus gracilentus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus gracilentus bloom?
Lupinus gracilentus blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Lupinus gracilentus belong to?
Lupinus gracilentus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
Is Lupinus gracilentus rare or endangered?
Lupinus gracilentus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Lupinus gracilentus grow in?
Lupinus gracilentus grows in Open moist sites, Subalpine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.