Lupinus nipomensis
Nipomo mesa lupine
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Lupinus nipomensis (Nipomo mesa lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by CNPS 1B.1, but habitat and growth form distinctive.
Nipomo mesa lupine is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern Central Coast regions of the Nipomo Dunes in southwestern San Luis Obispo County at elevations below 25 meters in coastal dune habitat. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces delicate pink flowers with a distinctive white or pale yellow banner spot, arranged in dense spiral clusters. Growing 10 to 20 centimeters tall with decumbent (sprawling) stems, it has a distinctively hairy appearance with slender branches. Its compound leaves feature 5 to 7 narrow leaflets, each 10 to 15 millimeters long and 5 to 6 millimeters wide, supported by petioles 2 to 3 centimeters long. The fruit develops as a slender pod 1.5 to 2 centimeters long, initially hairy and potentially becoming smooth with age.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; CNPS 1B.1, but habitat and growth form distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dunes
Elevation: < 25 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo
Bloom period
Lupinus nipomensis blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
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 nipomensis native to California?
Yes. Lupinus nipomensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus nipomensis bloom?
Lupinus nipomensis blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Lupinus nipomensis grow?
Lupinus nipomensis occurs in San Luis Obispo, at elevations of < 25 m.
What plant family does Lupinus nipomensis belong to?
Lupinus nipomensis is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
Is Lupinus nipomensis rare or endangered?
Lupinus nipomensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, 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.