Lupinus latifolius var. dudleyi
Dudley's broadleaf lupine
(c) George Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by George Williams · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus latifolius var. dudleyi (Dudley's broadleaf lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by very tall (9-11 dm), densely hairy with large flowers.
Dudley's broadleaf lupine is a California native perennial found in the San Francisco Bay Area in chaparral, grassland, and oak woodland at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces blue to purple flowers approximately 13 to 16 millimeters long. Growing 90 to 110 centimeters tall with densely hairy stems that are solid and not hollow, it forms a robust and textured presence in its native habitat. Its leaves are compound with multiple leaflets arranged in a palmate pattern, typical of lupine species. The plant creates dense clusters of flowers that attract local pollinators in its native coastal and inland habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; very tall (9-11 dm), densely hairy with large flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, grassland, oak woodland
Elevation: < 1000 m
Bloom period
Lupinus latifolius var. dudleyi blooms Apr-May.
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 latifolius var. dudleyi native to California?
Yes. Lupinus latifolius var. dudleyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus latifolius var. dudleyi bloom?
Lupinus latifolius var. dudleyi blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Lupinus latifolius var. dudleyi belong to?
Lupinus latifolius var. dudleyi is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus latifolius var. dudleyi grow in?
Lupinus latifolius var. dudleyi grows in Chaparral, grassland, oak woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius — Broadleaf lupine
- Lupinus latifolius var. parishii — Parish's broadleaf lupine
- Lupinus latifolius var. viridifolius — Small flowered broadleaf lupine
- Lupinus lepidus — Pacific lupine
- Lupinus lepidus var. aridus — Great basin dwarf lupine
- Lupinus lepidus var. confertus — Clustered tidy lupine
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.