Lupinus guadalupensis
Guadalupe island lupine, Guadalupe Island Lupine
(c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Lupinus guadalupensis (Guadalupe island lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by annual habit and large wide fruits.
Guadalupe island lupine is a California native annual found on San Clemente Island in coastal scrub habitats at elevations of 0 to 500 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces blue flowers with a distinctive white banner spot, each bloom 10 to 12 millimeters long arranged in whorled clusters. Growing 20 to 60 centimeters tall with sparsely hairy stems, it spreads with an open, delicate form. Its leaves feature 7 to 9 narrow leaflets, each 20 to 50 millimeters long and 3 to 5 millimeters wide, creating a fine, intricate foliage pattern. The fruit develops as a densely hairy pod 3 to 6 centimeters long, containing 6 to 8 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; key features are annual habit and large wide fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand or gravel, coastal scrub
Elevation: 0-500 m
California counties: Los Angeles
Outside California: Baja California (Guadalupe Island)
Bloom period
Lupinus guadalupensis blooms Feb-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 guadalupensis native to California?
Yes. Lupinus guadalupensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus guadalupensis bloom?
Lupinus guadalupensis blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Lupinus guadalupensis grow?
Lupinus guadalupensis occurs in Los Angeles, at elevations of 0-500 m.
What plant family does Lupinus guadalupensis belong to?
Lupinus guadalupensis is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
Is Lupinus guadalupensis rare or endangered?
Lupinus guadalupensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.