Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus
Donner lake lupine
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus (Donner lake lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by moderate size with long peduncles and color-changing banner spots.
Donner lake lupine is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin in dry rocky areas and open conifer forests at elevations of 1,000 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces flowers with a distinctive yellow to white banner that turns red, measuring 8 to 9 millimeters long. Growing with short stems 12 to 35 centimeters tall, ranging from prostrate to nearly erect, it forms a compact low-growing habit. Its leaves are predominantly basal, composed of 10 to 30 millimeter leaflets arranged in a delicate pattern. The inflorescence extends 4.5 to 11 centimeters, rising above the leaves with slender peduncles 4 to 14 centimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 66 sympatric species; moderate size with long peduncles and color-changing banner spots
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry rocks, open conifer forests
Elevation: 1000-2500 m
California counties: Plumas, Placer, Nevada, Mono, Siskiyou, Alpine, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Sierra, Modoc, Shasta, Tuolumne, Lassen, Butte, Mendocino, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Mariposa, Humboldt, Tulare, Madera, Los Angeles, Del Norte, Yuba, Inyo
Outside California: to Oregon, Idaho, Nevada
Bloom period
Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus 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. sellulus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus bloom?
Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus grow?
Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus occurs in Plumas, Placer, Nevada, Mono, Siskiyou, Alpine, El Dorado, Amador and other counties, at elevations of 1000-2500 m.
What plant family does Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus belong to?
Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus grow in?
Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus grows in dry rocks, open conifer forests.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.