Lupinus diffusus Plant Identification (Flower, Leaf, Care, Uses)

Lupinus diffusus Nutt. – Sky-Blue Lupine

Lupinus diffusus plant

FamilyFabaceae

Stems:

N/A

Leaves:

Lupinus diffusus leaves

Inflorescence:

Lupinus diffusus inflorescence

Flowers:

Lupinus diffusus calyx

Lupinus diffusus flowers

Flowering – March – May.

Habitat – Sandhills, open woods.

Origin – Native to North America.

Other information – This attractive species is fairly uncommon in Alabama and can be found in just a handful of southern counties. The plant is easy to identify becasue of its unifoliate leaves, sericeous stems, and brilliant blue flowers.
The genus name Lupinus is an old name derived from the Latin “lupus” meaning “a wolf” because Lupines were believed to destroy the fertility of the soil around them and wolves were very much looked down upon at the time.
The species epithet “diffusus means “spreading or spread apart”.

Alabama Distribution:

Lupinus diffusus map

Photographs taken