Lupinus padrecrowleyi
Father crowley's lupine, Father Crowley's Lupine
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Lupinus padrecrowleyi (Father crowley's lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by CNPS 1B.2, distinctive pale yellow flowers.
Father crowley's lupine is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in central and southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, including Mono, Inyo, and Tulare Counties, in desert scrub, riparian scrub, and upper montane conifer forests at elevations of 2,500 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces cream to pale yellow flowers with distinctive whorled arrangement on inflorescences 7 to 21 centimeters long. Growing with erect stems 50 to 75 centimeters tall, it forms a silvery to white-woolly mat with long, soft hairs. Its leaves have 6 to 9 leaflets, each 25 to 75 millimeters long, covered with soft hairs on the upper surface and arranged on petioles 2 to 3 centimeters long. The fruit is silky, 2 to 3 centimeters long, containing 2 to 3 white and black-mottled seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 56 sympatric species; CNPS 1B.2, distinctive pale yellow flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Decomposed granite, desert scrub, riparian scrub, upper montane conifer forests
Elevation: 2500-4000 m
California counties: Inyo, Tulare, Mono
Bloom period
Lupinus padrecrowleyi blooms Jun-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 padrecrowleyi native to California?
Yes. Lupinus padrecrowleyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus padrecrowleyi bloom?
Lupinus padrecrowleyi blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Lupinus padrecrowleyi grow?
Lupinus padrecrowleyi occurs in Inyo, Tulare, Mono, at elevations of 2500-4000 m.
What plant family does Lupinus padrecrowleyi belong to?
Lupinus padrecrowleyi is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
Is Lupinus padrecrowleyi rare or endangered?
Lupinus padrecrowleyi carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
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.