Lupinus lepidus var. aridus
Great basin dwarf lupine
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus lepidus var. aridus (Great basin dwarf lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by loosely tufted form, basal leaves covering raceme base, and short pedicels.
Great basin dwarf lupine is a California native perennial found in the Great Basin and eastern Sierra Nevada in sagebrush scrub and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,500 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pale blue to blue-purple flowers in dense whorls with a reflexed banner petal over 3 millimeters wide. Growing with loosely tufted, short stems 10 to 15 centimeters tall that are rarely branched and pilose to coarse-bristly, it forms compact clusters. Its leaf blades are 15 to 28 millimeters long, appearing basal and partially covering the flower raceme. The compact inflorescence reaches 3.5 to 20 centimeters long, with flowers arranged in 6 to 14 distinct whorls.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 95 sympatric species; key features are loosely tufted form, basal leaves covering raceme base, and short pedicels
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Bluffs, barrens, sandy or gravelly hillsides, sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: (200)1500-3200 m
Outside California: widely scattered to Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona
Bloom period
Lupinus lepidus var. aridus blooms (Apr)May-Jun(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 lepidus var. aridus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus lepidus var. aridus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus lepidus var. aridus bloom?
Lupinus lepidus var. aridus blooms (Apr)May-Jun(Jul).
What plant family does Lupinus lepidus var. aridus belong to?
Lupinus lepidus var. aridus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus lepidus var. aridus grow in?
Lupinus lepidus var. aridus grows in Uncommon. Bluffs, barrens, sandy or gravelly hillsides, sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lupinus lepidus var. confertus — Clustered tidy lupine
- Lupinus lepidus var. culbertsonii — Hockett meadow lupine
- Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii — Lobb's dwarf lupine
- Lupinus lepidus var. ramosus — Branched dwarf lupine
- Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus — Donner lake lupine
- Lupinus lepidus var. utahensis — Utah dwarf 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.