Lupinus microcarpus var. horizontalis

Rose chick lupine

Family: Fabaceae · Type: annual · Native

Rose chick lupine is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, southern San Joaquin Valley, western Transverse Ranges, and eastern Mojave Desert in washes, sandy, and gravelly habitats at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers that become translucent with age, with widely elliptic wings that persist after blooming. Growing with spreading-hairy stems, it forms low, horizontal clusters characteristic of its variety. Its leaves have multiple leaflets with delicate, hairy surfaces typical of lupine species. The flowers feature distinctive wing petals with ciliate margins near the base, creating a soft, textured appearance.

Habitat: Washes, sand, gravel

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: < 1500 m

Bioregions: s SNF, s SnJV, WTR, e DMoj.

California counties: Los Angeles, Kern, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Shasta, Inyo, Fresno, Kings, Ventura, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Merced

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.