Lupinus ludovicianus
San luis obispo county lupine, San Luis Obispo County Lupine
(c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Lupinus ludovicianus (San luis obispo county lupine) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by soft woolly hairs, notched calyx, limestone habitat.
San luis obispo county lupine is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in southern San Luis Obispo County in open, grassy areas and oak woodlands at elevations of 50 to 520 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces blue to purple flowers 10 to 15 millimeters long with a distinctive yellow spot that turns purple to white. Growing 30 to 60 centimeters tall with erect, branched stems covered in soft woolly hairs, the plant develops a compact, clustered form. Its leaves have 5 to 9 oblanceolate leaflets, each 15 to 40 millimeters long, clustered at the base of erect stems. The fruit is 2 to 3 centimeters long and hairy, containing 3 to 4 mottled grayish seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; key features are soft woolly hairs, notched calyx, limestone habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, grassy areas, on limestone, in oak woodland
Elevation: 50-520 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo
Bloom period
Lupinus ludovicianus blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 ludovicianus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus ludovicianus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus ludovicianus bloom?
Lupinus ludovicianus blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Lupinus ludovicianus grow?
Lupinus ludovicianus occurs in San Luis Obispo, at elevations of 50-520 m.
What plant family does Lupinus ludovicianus belong to?
Lupinus ludovicianus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
Is Lupinus ludovicianus rare or endangered?
Lupinus ludovicianus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.