Lupinus odoratus
Mojave lupine
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus odoratus (Mojave lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive violet odor and wavy pod sutures.
Mojave lupine is a California native annual found in the Great Basin and Desert bioregions in sandy flats, creosote bush scrub, and Joshua tree woodland at elevations of 500 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces deep blue-purple flowers with a white or yellow banner spot that turns magenta with age, creating a violet-scented display. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, the plant develops sparse short hairs in its youth before becoming glabrous. Its basal leaves feature 7 to 9 bright green leaflets, each 10 to 20 millimeters long and occasionally obovate in shape. The fruit is an oblong pod 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long with a wavy upper suture and dense long cilia.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 50 sympatric species; distinctive violet odor and wavy pod sutures
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy flats, open areas, creosote bush scrub, Joshua tree woodland
Elevation: 500-1600 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, Mono, San Diego, Riverside
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona
Bloom period
Lupinus odoratus blooms Apr-May(Jun).
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 odoratus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus odoratus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus odoratus bloom?
Lupinus odoratus blooms Apr-May(Jun).
Where in California does Lupinus odoratus grow?
Lupinus odoratus occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, Mono, San Diego, Riverside, at elevations of 500-1600 m.
What plant family does Lupinus odoratus belong to?
Lupinus odoratus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus odoratus grow in?
Lupinus odoratus grows in Sandy flats, open areas, creosote bush scrub, Joshua tree woodland.
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.