Grow Lupins Growing Lupinus polyphyllus
Lupin flower at their best in May and June. A second flush can be encouraged by not allowing the first flowers to set seed and cut them as son as they have flowered. The tall 2’6″ spikes can be very striking in colours from white, deep purple through reds and yellows to various bi-coloured varieties. The old railway cuttings used to have blue and pink Lupins growing alongside the tracks after escaping from old station gardens.
The plants grow well from seed which is hard and round like a small pea. I soak my seeds for 12 hours before planting them 2 too a cell in plastic pots but fiber pots may be better to avoid root disturbance. Direct sowing or taking cuttings from new growth early in the year are other ways of propagating.
Other Types of Lupins
- Popular annuals grown from seed are hybrids of species such as Lupin hartwegii and Lupin pubescens.
- Lupin arboreus is known as the Tree Lupin which can form a nice shrub but I regret my specimen died.
- Lupin is now grown as a forage crop to feed live stock in some countries.
Lupin Seeds and Plants
- Lupin Seeds at T&M
- Dwarf Lupin Plants at T&M
Lupin Links
Lupin External Links
- Growing Lupins at BBC
Nick Thackeray said,
December 23, 2008 @ 1:52 am
Hello,
I have some beautiful Lupins that I planted last year in one of my beds, but they are in the wrong place as the colour is too similar to the Fuschia next to it. Can they be transplanted? If so when is the best time? I assume they should be cut back first, would they need to be kept moist after transplanting, until there is new growth? Thanks. Nick
admin said,
December 23, 2008 @ 8:50 am
Lupins can be moved between autumn and spring but make sure you get the whole of the fleshy root. I would wait for early growth and take some cuttings. When they are rooted and established you can discard the badly place plant.
Rachel Elliot said,
February 17, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
Why do you have to soak your seeds for 12 hours?
admin said,
February 22, 2009 @ 7:03 am
The seed coating is very hard. If water can’t get in germination can’t start. You could ‘chip’ the seed with a sharp knife or rub it with sandpaper. Some seeds will still germinate but the timing may be a bit erratic
B. Shepherd said,
May 5, 2009 @ 4:33 am
Dear Sir,
Ido not seem to be very successful with growing lupins.
I am aware that they prefer free-draining soil, but what position should they be planted in, i.e. full sun, shade, semi-shade?
Hopefully you can help, B. Shepherd
barbara Mick said,
June 6, 2009 @ 5:20 am
Hi, are lupins perennial? do they self seed?
admin said,
June 7, 2009 @ 6:29 am
Lupins are perennial do you remember seeing them alongside Railway tracks.
They seed prolifically but I collect the seed and sow them myself rather than relying on mother nature to disperse them.
Sue Turner said,
June 13, 2009 @ 3:06 am
Hi – My lupins are great this year – some are getting quite old and have grown very large – can you split them down into 2 or 3 plants in the autumn when they have finished flowering?
Chris said,
June 15, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
What sort of soil do Lupin grow in best? Mine are growing incredibly slow as I transplanted them from another location. Here it is mid June and they’re fragile and only 6 inches tall.
admin said,
June 16, 2009 @ 12:34 am
I grow them in an open soil that has has humus added when planting – that way they get food air and this summer plenty of water
BERNIE said,
June 29, 2009 @ 3:47 am
my lupins – the spikey bits on the stems have gone black, they look like black pods now!
can anyone tell me what has happnened or why or what i should do? will they flower again?
thanks bernie.
DAVE LEES said,
September 7, 2009 @ 11:47 am
I LIVE IN THE SCOTTISH BORDERS IN THE EAST,NEAR EDINBURGH.
DO I CUT BACK MY LUPINS ? OR DO I LEAVE THEM TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES?
THANKS AND REGARDS
DAVE
admin said,
September 9, 2009 @ 12:59 pm
I would tidy up and cut them back. Some mulch would help but if you want a natural feel leave them tpo there own devices. Remember how they looked on railway embankments
e hughes said,
November 8, 2009 @ 5:29 pm
thanks just picked up some useful tips
Len Knight said,
April 30, 2010 @ 2:25 am
I have just bought some young dwarf lupin plants from a well known English supplier,
I planted in a large patio pot, two weeks ago, watered in well, with fertilizer,in a warm location facing south, how long before some signs of life, look pretty poorly at present.
admin said,
April 30, 2010 @ 2:41 am
Two weeks is not long enough but the roots should be settled in by now and growth will start soon. My lupins left from last year are 18″ high and putting on a lot of leaf.
If you have followed the suppliers advice and they do not perform then claim replacements or your money back.
Mrs. C Lilly said,
May 6, 2010 @ 3:54 am
Do slugs and/or snails eat lupins ?
I would love to put some in my cottage garden, however everything planted so far has been devoured by these creatures, so I am stuck with all the stuff that was in garden when house purchased.
I do not want to use chemicals to kill them, but will try natural methods…currently I gather all snails up and put in plastic tub with lid,Then I walk about a mile and dump them in wasteland/countryside.
Please advise if lupins will be preferred choice for these ever-hungry pests
admin said,
May 6, 2010 @ 7:09 am
Snails may be worse than slugs. Try surrounding the Lupins with ash or gravel and remove the damp, dark areas where snails can congregate.
Rain, wind, hail – and gardening « Protect from Frost said,
May 9, 2010 @ 8:32 am
[...] of the compact shasta daisy Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Snowcap’ ; white and rose pink lupins beginning to shoot upwards; a handsome great fuschia-pink digitalis; and a marguerite speckled with [...]
Helen said,
May 30, 2010 @ 11:19 am
I have two plants which were brought and planted last year. In the early spring they started growing back as normal but each leaf stalk gets to about 10cm long with a leaf about 4cm diameter and then withers and dies. The plant is still continueing to produce new leaves but non have got beyond this stage. I cannot see any obvious signs of pests on the plant and have also have a bit of a look at the roots but can’t see any obvious problems. I would really appreciate your help to diagnose what is wrong and how to treat it.
admin said,
May 30, 2010 @ 11:38 am
Lupins are susceptible to aphids and they can bring in bacteria. I would spray with a combined insecticide and fungicide. Belt and braces may be.
Also Lupins need water to thrive – is your soil very dry?
Linda Provost said,
June 13, 2010 @ 4:47 pm
My lupins had little white flies on them when they were in bud. Are these injurious to the plant and what can I use to get rid of them.
admin said,
June 14, 2010 @ 6:16 am
I am afraid they sound like greenfly and will not do the plant any good. If you want to be organic you can squish them with your fingers before they become to prolific or wash them off with a jet of soapy water.
Lupin Flowers | Gardeners Tips said,
June 14, 2010 @ 8:23 am
[...] Growing Lupins [...]
Pests and Diseases on Lupins | Gardeners Tips said,
June 14, 2010 @ 8:32 am
[...] Growing lupins [...]
Tim Holt said,
June 21, 2010 @ 2:03 am
When do I harvest the seed pods for re-planting in the spring.
Do they need to dry-off before taking them from the plant?
admin said,
June 22, 2010 @ 12:24 am
Let lupin seeds dry on the plant in the furry pods. As they darken and go brittle you can pick them and harvest
Bulb said,
June 23, 2010 @ 1:32 am
When you cut lupins back before seeds set to encourage new flowers to grow – do you cut them at the very bottom of the old stem or just beneath the flowerhead?
admin said,
June 23, 2010 @ 1:38 am
There is usually a bud breaking below the flower stalk. Cut above the bud or just below the last seed pod.
Alan said,
July 3, 2010 @ 10:55 am
I split my lupin plant early this year as I had made a new bed and wanted some of it in there. Imagine my surprise when the new plant produced silver and blue flowers whilst the original continued to flower pink. What has happened here?
mavis Parkinson said,
July 21, 2010 @ 8:00 am
when is the best time to take the pods and where do I cut on the stalk?
thanks mavis
Shirley from Halifax said,
July 22, 2010 @ 3:40 am
when i have removed my pods from the lupins where do i store them and at what time of the month do i replant them
admin said,
July 22, 2010 @ 6:48 am
Remove pods when they dry or start to dry. Store seeds in the dry and dark. Sow in late winter through to mid summer. If you sow now in July protect the plants when you plant them out.
Pete Anstey said,
August 14, 2010 @ 2:06 am
My lupins have been great during june and july. Now in august one plant in particular, is very healthy but as the indvidual flower buds appear on the flower stems they are being ‘removed form the base upwards as they grow. There is no visible sign of a pest, aphid beetle etc what is the likely cause?
admin said,
August 19, 2010 @ 7:14 am
I still think it is aphids. Slugs and rabbits would eat the leaves as well.