Lupinus latifolius var. parishii
Parish's broadleaf lupine
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Lupinus latifolius var. parishii (Parish's broadleaf lupine) is a native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by hollow stems, large flowers (14-18 mm), tall with sparse hairs.
Parish's broadleaf lupine is a California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada, southern Sierra Nevada, and southwestern California in moist areas at elevations of 50 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces blue to purple flowers approximately 14 to 18 millimeters long in clustered inflorescences. Growing 1 to 2 meters tall with hollow stems that are nearly smooth to sparsely hairy, it forms a robust and upright structure. Its leaves are compound with multiple leaflets arranged in a palmate pattern, typical of lupine species, creating a distinctive green canopy. The plant develops characteristic lupine pods that contain its seeds in the late summer months.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 57 sympatric species; hollow stems, large flowers (14-18 mm), tall with sparse hairs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist areas
Elevation: 50-3500 m
Outside California: Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Lupinus latifolius var. parishii blooms May-Aug.
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. parishii native to California?
Yes. Lupinus latifolius var. parishii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus latifolius var. parishii bloom?
Lupinus latifolius var. parishii blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Lupinus latifolius var. parishii belong to?
Lupinus latifolius var. parishii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus latifolius var. parishii grow in?
Lupinus latifolius var. parishii grows in Moist areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii — Lobb's dwarf lupine
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.