Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor
Varicolored bluff lupine
Photo: parent species Lupinus littoralis · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor (Varicolored bluff lupine) is a native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by unique multi-colored flowers on same plant and lack of banner spot.
Varicolored bluff lupine is a California native perennial found in northern coastal and central coastal bioregions on coastal dunes, beaches, bluffs, and sandy terraces at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces strikingly variable flowers in white, yellow, rose, and purple on the same plant, creating a multicolored display. Growing 20 to 80 centimeters tall with dense, silver-appressed or spreading hairs, the plant forms a compact, textured mound. Its leaves are distinctively composed of 7 to 9 leaflets, each 20 to 35 millimeters long, often clustered near the base during its first year of growth. The seeds are mottled dark and measure 3 to 4 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species; unique multi-colored flowers on same plant and lack of banner spot
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal dunes, beaches, bluffs and terraces, sandy soil
Elevation: < 100(350) m
California counties: Sonoma, Alameda, Santa Barbara, Marin, San Mateo, Mendocino, San Francisco, Humboldt, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Del Norte
Bloom period
Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor blooms Apr-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 littoralis var. variicolor native to California?
Yes. Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor bloom?
Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor grow?
Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor occurs in Sonoma, Alameda, Santa Barbara, Marin, San Mateo, Mendocino, San Francisco, Humboldt and other counties, at elevations of < 100(350) m.
What plant family does Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor belong to?
Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor grow in?
Lupinus littoralis var. variicolor grows in Coastal dunes, beaches, bluffs and terraces, sandy soil.
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.