Lupinus nevadensis
Nevada lupine
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Lupinus nevadensis (Nevada lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by CNPS 4.3, distinctive strongly upcurved keel.
Nevada lupine is a California native perennial found in the Great Basin and Desert Mountains in sagebrush scrub, hillsides, valleys, and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,000 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces blue flowers with white to pale yellow banner spots, arranged in spiraled clusters 5 to 17 centimeters long. Growing with erect stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall and densely covered in long hairs, it forms a robust herbaceous perennial. Its leaves have 6 to 10 leaflets, each 2 to 5 centimeters long, with basal leaflets on longer petioles and stem leaflets on shorter stalks. The fruit is a densely hairy pod 2.5 to 4 centimeters long, containing 3 to 4 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 50 sympatric species; CNPS 4.3, distinctive strongly upcurved keel
Habitat and range
Habitat: Hillsides, valleys, sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1000-3000 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, Lassen
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Lupinus nevadensis blooms Apr-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 nevadensis native to California?
Yes. Lupinus nevadensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus nevadensis bloom?
Lupinus nevadensis blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Lupinus nevadensis grow?
Lupinus nevadensis occurs in Inyo, Mono, Lassen, at elevations of 1000-3000 m.
What plant family does Lupinus nevadensis belong to?
Lupinus nevadensis is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
Is Lupinus nevadensis rare or endangered?
Lupinus nevadensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
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.