Type: Spring and summer perennial
Height: 100-120cm
Placement: Semi-shade to full sun
Quantity: Min. 30 seeds
Germination rate: 80%
Plant spacing: 40x40cm
Colour: Primarily purple, but can also be other colors such as white, pink etc.
Sowing: August-october or early spring march-april at a depth of 1 cm.
Flowering: May-July. Will probably not flower until the second year.
Lupine is a very tall early visitor in spring. When fully grown it produces a profusion of upright showy spikes with purple flowers. The spikes flower from the bottom up and can be enjoyed for several weeks. After flowering, the plant can be cut back to make room in the same flower bed for other summer flowers or perennials. Cutting off the seed heads also prevents the plant from spreading by self-seeding.
Lupine may flower the first year it is sown, but otherwise flowering is certain in the second year. A full-grown plant can occupy up to half a square metre with its full body and many flower spikes.
Lupine is considered an invasive species in Denmark, so you should not grow it without supervision - for example in grassy areas where it can multiply freely - but in a normal residential garden, it is no problem to keep lupine.
Lupine is one of my favourite spring flowers because it blooms early and is very colourful.
