Lupinus littoralis
Seashore lupine
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Lupinus littoralis (Seashore lupine) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by prostrate to decumbent habit on coastal sand diagnostic.
Seashore lupine is a California native perennial found in northern and central coastal regions, including Point Reyes, growing in coastal sand habitats at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces variously colored flowers 10 to 16 millimeters long with a distinctive white or absent banner spot. Growing prostrate to decumbent with green to silvery stems less than 80 centimeters tall, it forms a low-spreading habit characteristic of coastal environments. Its leaves are compound with 5 to 9 leaflets, each 10 to 35 millimeters long, carried on petioles 2 to 10 centimeters in length. The fruit is a hairy pod 3 to 4 centimeters long, containing 7 to 12 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; prostrate to decumbent habit on coastal sand diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal sand
Elevation: < 100 m.
Outside California: to British Columbia.
Bloom period
Lupinus littoralis 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 littoralis native to California?
Yes. Lupinus littoralis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus littoralis bloom?
Lupinus littoralis blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Lupinus littoralis belong to?
Lupinus littoralis is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus littoralis grow in?
Lupinus littoralis grows in Coastal sand.
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.