Lupinus stiversii
Harlequin lupine
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lupinus stiversii (Harlequin lupine) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by unmistakable tri-colored flowers (yellow banner, pink wings, white keel).
Harlequin lupine is a California native annual found in the Sierra Nevada, northern Santa Lucia Mountains of Monterey County, San Gabriel Mountains, and San Bernardino Mountains in clearings, chaparral, and foothill woodlands at elevations of 100 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces distinctive yellow banner flowers with pink wings and white keel, arranged in dense spiraled clusters typically 3 to 8 centimeters long. Growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with sparsely hairy stems, it forms an upright annual with delicate branching. Its bright green leaves have seven leaflets, each 20 to 50 millimeters long and 5 to 15 millimeters wide, creating a fine, feathery appearance. The fruit develops as a pod approximately 2 centimeters long, generally smooth and containing about five seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 66 sympatric species; unmistakable tri-colored flowers (yellow banner, pink wings, white keel)
Habitat and range
Habitat: Locally common. Clearings, open areas, chaparral, foothill woodland, yellow pine forest
Elevation: 100-2200 m
California counties: El Dorado, Fresno, Tuolumne, Los Angeles, Tulare, Amador, Calaveras, Plumas, Mariposa, Madera, Monterey, San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Butte, Placer, Tehama, Yuba, Nevada, Sonoma, San Francisco
Bloom period
Lupinus stiversii blooms Apr-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 stiversii native to California?
Yes. Lupinus stiversii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus stiversii bloom?
Lupinus stiversii blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Lupinus stiversii grow?
Lupinus stiversii occurs in El Dorado, Fresno, Tuolumne, Los Angeles, Tulare, Amador, Calaveras, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of 100-2200 m.
What plant family does Lupinus stiversii belong to?
Lupinus stiversii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus stiversii grow in?
Lupinus stiversii grows in Locally common. Clearings, open areas, chaparral, foothill woodland, yellow pine forest.
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.