Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii
Lobb's dwarf lupine
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii (Lobb's dwarf lupine) is a native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by very low (< 10 cm), prostrate with head-like inflorescence.
Lobb's dwarf lupine is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, and eastern Sierra Nevada in dry rocky meadows at elevations of 2,000 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white-spotted flowers with a compact, head-like arrangement. Growing as a diminutive plant generally less than 10 centimeters tall, it has a distinctive prostrate growth habit with stems spreading close to the ground. Its leaves are primarily basal, small and hairy, with greenish surfaces that sometimes become smoother with age. The plant is characterized by its dense, shaggy-hairy appearance and compact flowering clusters that nestle among its low-growing foliage.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 61 sympatric species; very low (< 10 cm), prostrate with head-like inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry rocks, meadows
Elevation: 2000-3500 m
California counties: Mono, Alpine, Tulare, Inyo, Kern, Modoc, Tuolumne, Fresno, Plumas, Nevada, Mendocino, Shasta, Sierra, Lassen, Tehama, Madera, Amador, Placer, El Dorado, Humboldt, Mariposa, Siskiyou, Trinity, Glenn
Outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho, Nevada
Bloom period
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii blooms Jun-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 lepidus var. lobbii native to California?
Yes. Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii bloom?
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii grow?
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii occurs in Mono, Alpine, Tulare, Inyo, Kern, Modoc, Tuolumne, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of 2000-3500 m.
What plant family does Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii belong to?
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii grow in?
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii grows in dry rocks, meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.