Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius
Broadleaf lupine
(c) George Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by George Williams · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius (Broadleaf lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by large size, broad leaflets, long inflorescence diagnostic.
Broadleaf lupine is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada and eastern Sierra Nevada mountains in moist areas and open woodland at elevations below 3,500 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces blue to purple flowers approximately 10 to 14 millimeters long in compact clusters. Growing 30 to 150 centimeters tall with stems that are glabrous to softly hairy and solid throughout, it forms a robust and spreading habit. Its compound leaves are composed of 5 to 7 oblanceolate leaflets, each 3 to 8 centimeters long, with a distinctive palmate arrangement. The fruits are typical lupine pods, developing after the long flowering period in late summer.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 53 sympatric species; large size, broad leaflets, long inflorescence diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist areas, open woodland
Elevation: < 3500 m
California counties: El Dorado, Tulare, Placer, Glenn, Mono, Butte, Tuolumne, Kern, Sierra, Nevada, Amador, Madera, Fresno, Plumas, Tehama, Lake, Calaveras, Mariposa, Alpine, Inyo, Lassen
Outside California: to Yukon, Arizona, Mexico
Bloom period
Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius blooms Apr-Sep.
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. latifolius native to California?
Yes. Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius bloom?
Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius blooms Apr-Sep.
Where in California does Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius grow?
Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius occurs in El Dorado, Tulare, Placer, Glenn, Mono, Butte, Tuolumne, Kern and other counties, at elevations of < 3500 m.
What plant family does Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius belong to?
Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius grow in?
Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius grows in Moist areas, open woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Lupinus lepidus var. culbertsonii — Hockett meadow lupine
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.