Lupinus pratensis
Inyo meadow lupine
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus pratensis (Inyo meadow lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family.
Inyo meadow lupine is a California native perennial found in eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in alpine and subalpine meadow habitats at elevations above 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces violet to dark blue to pink flowers with an orange to red banner spot, clustered in dense inflorescences 5 to 28 centimeters long. Growing 30 to 70 centimeters tall with erect, hollow green stems that are distinctly hairy, it develops an upright and robust form. Its leaves are composed of 5 to 10 green leaflets ranging from 30 to 80 millimeters long, with basal leaf stalks 10 to 25 centimeters in length. The fruit is 1.5 to 2 centimeters long, covered in dense hairs, and contains 4 to 6 mottled tan and brown seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species - geographically isolated
Habitat and range
California counties: Inyo, Tulare, Fresno, Tuolumne, Mono
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 pratensis native to California?
Yes. Lupinus pratensis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Lupinus pratensis grow?
Lupinus pratensis occurs in Inyo, Tulare, Fresno, Tuolumne, Mono.
What plant family does Lupinus pratensis belong to?
Lupinus pratensis is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
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.