Lupinus sericatus
Cobb mountain lupine, Cobb Mountain Lupine
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Lupinus sericatus (Cobb mountain lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive silvery-silky foliage with spoon-shaped leaflets.
Cobb mountain lupine is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in southern North Coast Ranges Interior including Napa, Lake, and Sonoma counties in open wooded slopes, chaparral, and lower montane conifer forest at elevations of 275 to 1,525 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces purple to violet flowers 12 to 16 millimeters long with distinctively hairy banner petals. Growing 15 to 50 centimeters tall with generally erect stems that are silver to gray-green and short-appressed-hairy, it forms a compact, clustered habit. Its leaves are composed of 4 to 7 widely spoon-shaped leaflets, each 30 to 50 millimeters long and densely silky in texture. The plant produces hairy fruits 2 to 3 centimeters long containing 3 to 7 light brown seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; key feature is distinctive silvery-silky foliage with spoon-shaped leaflets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open wooded slopes, broadleaf upland forest, chaparral, lower montane conifer forest
Elevation: 275-1525 m
Bloom period
Lupinus sericatus blooms Mar-Jun.
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 sericatus native to California?
Yes. Lupinus sericatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus sericatus bloom?
Lupinus sericatus blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Lupinus sericatus belong to?
Lupinus sericatus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
Is Lupinus sericatus rare or endangered?
Lupinus sericatus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2?.
What habitat does Lupinus sericatus grow in?
Lupinus sericatus grows in Open wooded slopes, broadleaf upland forest, chaparral, lower montane conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.