Lupinus grayi
Gray's lupine
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Lupinus grayi (Gray's lupine) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by prostrate habit and woolly gray appearance.
Gray's lupine is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada in open yellow pine and red fir forests at elevations of 500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces deep purple to light blue flowers with yellow spots turning reddish, arranged in whorled clusters 10 to 16 centimeters long. Growing 20 to 35 centimeters tall with prostrate to matted stems that are spreading-tomentose to woolly, it spreads across the forest floor. Its leaves are primarily basal with 5 to 11 leaflets, each 10 to 35 millimeters long, supported by petioles 5 to 12 centimeters in length. The fruit is a hairy pod 2 to 3.5 centimeters long, containing 4 to 6 mottled gray-brown seeds with a distinctive dark lateral line.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 53 sympatric species; key features are prostrate habit and woolly gray appearance
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open yellow pine and red fir forests
Elevation: 500-2500 m
California counties: Fresno, El Dorado, Kern, Tuolumne, Lassen, Tulare, Plumas, Nevada, Tehama, Mariposa, Sierra, Monterey, Butte, Amador, Placer, Madera, Siskiyou, Shasta, Merced, Inyo, Ventura, San Bernardino, Calaveras, Colusa
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Lupinus grayi blooms May-Jul.
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 grayi native to California?
Yes. Lupinus grayi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus grayi bloom?
Lupinus grayi blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Lupinus grayi grow?
Lupinus grayi occurs in Fresno, El Dorado, Kern, Tuolumne, Lassen, Tulare, Plumas, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 500-2500 m.
What plant family does Lupinus grayi belong to?
Lupinus grayi is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus grayi grow in?
Lupinus grayi grows in Common. Open yellow pine and red fir forests.
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.