Lupinus albicaulis Dougl. ex Hook., pine lupine, is a native, rapid-developing, deep tap-rooted, multi-stemmed, erect forb, 2½ to 5 feet tall. The plant may be an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial in various parts of its range. In Oregon, its habit is like a subshrub. The leaves are alternate, palmately compound, with 5 to 9 leaflets that average 1½ inches long. Attractive purple to white banner-type flowers appear in late May and last for about 3 weeks. The seeds are compressed, brown to black in color and mottled with gray. There can be 11,000 to 29,000 seeds per pound.

sickle-keeled lupine

Lupinus albicaulis Douglas ex Hook.:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Canada

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Pine lupine is adapted to dry slopes and openings of western Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and northern California at all elevations below 8,000 feet with a precipitation range of 25 to 80 inches. Persistence is best on disturbed or seasonally changing sites such as sand dunes or dredge spoils where competition is reduced. Best growth and development are achieved when the plant is grown in full sun. It is an excellent pioneer species.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

Annual, Herbs, Taproot present, Nodules present, Stems erect or ascending, Stems less than 1 m tall, Stems solid, Stems or young twigs sparsely to densely hairy, Stem hairs hispid to villous, Leaves alternate, Leaves petiolate, Stipules conspicuous, Stipules setiform, subulate or acicular, Stipules persistent, Stipules adnate to petiole, Leaves compound, Leaves palmately 5-11 foliate, Leaf or leaflet margins entire, Leaflets 5-9, Leaves hairy on one or both surfaces, Inflorescences racemes, Inflorescence termi nal, Bracts conspicuously present, Bracts very small, absent or caducous, Bracteoles present, Flowers zygomorphic, Calyx 5-lobed, Calyx 2-lipped or 2-lobed, Calyx hairy, Petals separate, Corolla papilionaceous, Petals clawed, Petals orange or yellow, Petals blue, lavander to purple, or violet, Petals bicolored or with red, purple or yellow streaks or spots, Banner petal ovoid or obovate, Wing petals narrow, oblanceolate to oblong, Wing tips obtuse or rounded, Keel petals auriculate, spurred, or gibbous, Stamens 9-10, Stamens or anthers dimorphic, alternating large and small, Stamens monadelphous, united below, Filaments glabrous, Style terete, Fruit a legume, Fruit unilocular, Fruit freely dehiscent, Fruit elongate, straight, Fruit oblong or ellipsoidal, Fruit exserted from calyx, Fruit internally septate between the seeds, Fruit hairy, Fruit 3-10 seeded, Seeds ovoid to rounded in outline, Seed surface smooth, Seeds olive, brown, or black, Seed surface mottled or patchy, Lupinus albicaulis Perennial, Herbs, Taproot present, Nodules present, Stems erect or ascending, Stems less than 1 m tall, Stems solid, Stems or young twigs sparsely to densely hairy, Leaves alternate, Leaves petiolate, Stipules conspicuous, Stipules setiform, subulate or acicular, Stipules persistent, Stipules adnate to petiole, Leaves compound, Leaves palmately 5-11 foliate, Leaf or leaflet margins entire, Leaflets 5-9, Leaves hairy on one or both surfaces, Inflorescences racemes, Inflorescence terminal, Bracts conspicuously present, Bracts very small, absent or caducous, Bracteoles present, Flowers zygomorphic, Calyx 5-lobed, Calyx 2-lipped or 2-lobed, Calyx hairy, Petals separate, Corolla papilionaceous, Petals clawed, Petals white, Petals orange or yellow, Petals blue, lavander to purple, or violet, Petals bicolored or with red, purple or yellow streaks or spots, Banner petal ovoid or obovate, Wing petals narrow, oblanceolate to oblong, Wing ti ps obtuse or rounded, Keel petals auriculate, spurred, or gibbous, Keel abruptly curved, or spirally coiled, Stamens 9-10, Stamens or anthers dimorphic, alternating large and small, Stamens monadelphous, united below, Filaments glabrous, Style terete, Fruit a legume, Fruit unilocular, Fruit freely dehiscent, Fruit elongate, straight, Fruit oblong or ellipsoidal, Fruit exserted from calyx, Fruit internally septate between the seeds, Fruit hairy, Fruit 3-10 seeded, Seeds ovoid to rounded in outline, Seed surface smooth, Seeds olive, brown, or black, Seed surface mottled or patchy.

Pine lupine can be seeded either in early fall or in the spring at 4 to 20 pounds per acre, depending on the site and seed mixture desired, and at a depth of ½ to ¾ inch. Strips for landscaping or wildlife use can be broadcast seeded at about 20 pounds per acre. For all conservation uses pine lupine can be seeded alone at about 10 pounds per acre, or with companion grass-legume mixtures, or into existing grass stands at 4 to 15 pounds per acre, depending upon need.

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Insect damage is significant only during seed production and is controlled with normal spray programs. Powdery mildew is common in some years but is not considered a problem for the intended use.

‘Hederma’ (Oregon) is a short-lived perennial; in its area of adaptation, it may survive 3 to 4 years, but it tends to act as an annual. It is intended for use in western Oregon, western Washington, and northwestern California only, for sites in the elevation range of 0 to 3,000 feet. While the plant exhibits partial dieback in the winter, it has some evergreen stems and foliage. This material produces about 20,000 seeds per pound. Seeds are available from several commercial seed sources.

Because of its rapid growth, pine lupine shades out a majority of weeds and lessens the need for intense weed control after establishment.

For seed production, pine lupine can be produced on most well-drained tillable soils. Fields planted in late summer or early fall at 10 pounds per acre in 24 inch rows produce an excellent seed crop the following year. When harvested, it acts as a biennial and only produces 1 crop of seed. Because of seed shatter, the seed crop should be windrowed several days before harvest and rolled on tarps to dry. Plant material has also been successfully windrowed on 6 foot wide sheets of paper.

Wildlife: Several species of birds use the seed for food and the stemmy growth for cover. Rabbits and other small game also use this plant for cover.

Crops: For nitrogen fixation, pine lupine can be seeded as a winter green manure cover crop or used in reforestation projects. Species toxicity to livestock and wildlife is not known; however the cultivar ‘Hederma’ did not produce toxic symptoms in sheep or calves in a feeding trial.

Erosion control: Because of pine lupine’s rapid growth, it can be used on critical erosion sites, including droughty, steep, low fertility slopes.

Recreation and beautification: The plant’s showy floral display and pleasant scent makes it appropriate for landscape uses around residential areas and within parks where a tall, short-lived wildflower is desired.