Lupines in the Perennial Flower Garden
Generally, this native of sunny, sandy or gravelly soils frustrates the heck out of gardeners who have difficulty growing it.
It really does thrive best in full, hot sun.
It also likes well drained soils that get decent amounts of rainfall. Some garden writers describe this plant as growing well on clay. I never found this to be true for me but hey, if it works for you I’m pleased. It will however, produce huge flowers in fertile soil with good amounts of organic matter.
Doesn't Like Transplanting
It dislikes being transplanted. Really. By far the easiest way to grow this perennial flower is to start it from seed in your garden where you want it to grow.
It hates transplanting so much that commercial nurseries will only seed it in plug trays (mini-flower pots) that will not damage the root when transplanted out of this seedling tray. I’ve heard a lot of garden moaning over trying to move small plants. Interestingly enough, the big roots move better than smaller ones.
Technically a Biennial
This plant is technically a biennial; this means they grow foliage the first year and flower the second. They then procede to die. This means you really, really want to allow the seed heads to mature on the plant and spread them around your garden where you want flowers in following years. If you don’t seed, you won’t have new plants.
While not fragrant, lupines do make an excellent cut flower.
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