Lupinus obtusilobus
Satin lupine
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus obtusilobus (Satin lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive banner broader than long and silvery appearance.
Satin lupine is a native perennial found in the northwestern California, Cascade Range, and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in gravelly summits, red fir, and subalpine forests at elevations of 1,500 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces blue to lilac flowers with yellow or white banner spots, arranged in whorled clusters 3 to 7 centimeters long. Growing 15 to 30 centimeters tall with decumbent to erect stems covered in appressed silvery-silky hairs, it has a distinctive appearance. Its leaves are compound with 6 to 7 leaflets, each 20 to 50 millimeters long, arranged on short 2 to 5 millimeter petioles. The fruit is a silky pod 2.5 to 4 centimeters long, containing 4 to 5 mottled brown seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 64 sympatric species; distinctive banner broader than long and silvery appearance
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly summits, red fir and subalpine forests
Elevation: 1500-3500 m
California counties: Trinity, Siskiyou, Shasta, Humboldt, Glenn, Tehama, Lassen, Plumas, Butte, Sierra, Mendocino, Nevada, Del Norte, Lake
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Lupinus obtusilobus blooms Jun-Sep.
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 obtusilobus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus obtusilobus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus obtusilobus bloom?
Lupinus obtusilobus blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Lupinus obtusilobus grow?
Lupinus obtusilobus occurs in Trinity, Siskiyou, Shasta, Humboldt, Glenn, Tehama, Lassen, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3500 m.
What plant family does Lupinus obtusilobus belong to?
Lupinus obtusilobus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus obtusilobus grow in?
Lupinus obtusilobus grows in Gravelly summits, red fir and subalpine forests.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.