• A tall spike of deep purple flowers with a striking white banner petal, blooming along a fuzzy, silvery-green stem. The delicate pea-like blossoms are arranged in a dense cluster.
  • A large flowering stem with pale purple, velvety blossoms emerging from a mound of silvery-green leaves. The plant's soft hairs give it a characteristic silky texture.
  • A patch of vibrant blue-purple lupine spikes standing tall against a backdrop of rolling hills and bright blue sky. The silvery foliage contrasts with the surrounding greenery.
  • A compact, low-growing lupine plant with star-like, silvery-green leaves and delicate purple flower spikes. The plant thrives in dry, rocky soil, nestled among scattered stones and grasses.
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Wild About Flowers

Lupinus sericeus - Silky Lupine

Lupinus sericeus - Silky Lupine

$16.50 CAD
$16.50 CAD
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Silky Lupine is a striking perennial with tall spikes of blue to violet, pea-like flowers rising above soft, silvery-green foliage. Its velvety leaves and upright growth add texture and visual interest to meadows, prairies, and open landscapes. The nectar-rich flowers attract native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, supporting a diverse range of pollinators. With deep roots that help stabilize soil, it readily self-seeds through ballistic seed dispersal, where drying pods split open to propel seeds away from the parent plant. In urban settings, unwanted seedlings are easy to identify, remove, or transplant.

This drought-tolerant plant thrives in full sun, making it an excellent choice for dry prairie plantings, wildflower meadows, and pollinator gardens. While visually striking, all parts of the plant contain alkaloids that can be toxic to livestock if consumed in large amounts. These compounds also make it unpalatable to most herbivores, offering strong resistance to deer and other browsers.

How Easy Is This Plant to Grow?

Germination Difficulty: Intermediate
Growing Difficulty: Intermediate
Speed of Growth: Moderate
Age to First Bloom: 2-3

Plant Sizes & Blooming Window

Important Information - The "Plant Sizes" are provided as a general guideline for plant selection. The "Blooming Window" indicates the general period when the species is in bloom, not how long an individual plant will flower.

Plant growth and bloom times will vary depending on geographical location & individual site conditions. Please scroll down to see the specific information for this plant.

Edible & Medicinal Info Disclaimer

The Edible & Medicinal information on this site is for informational purposes only and should not be acted on without thorough research and professional guidance. We are not responsible for any adverse effects resulting from the use of or misidentification of plants.

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Plant Specifics

Seeds Per Pack

Seeds Per Package: 8

Light Conditions

  • Sun
  • Part Shade

Soil Conditions

  • Well Drained
  • Loam
  • Sandy
  • Gravelly
  • Dry

Height

  • 12" - 24"
  • 24" - 36"

Width

  • 12" - 24"

Bloom Colour

  • Blue
  • Purple
  • Lavender Blue

Month of Bloom

  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August

Vigorousness

  • Moderate
  • Fast

Deer Resistance

  • High

Features

  • Birds
  • Butterflies
  • Bees
  • Long Bloom Time
  • Urban Spaces
  • Rural Spaces
  • Medicinal Properties
  • Toxic or Posionous Parts

Chinook Exposure

  • Fully Exposed

Distribution Info

Silky Lupine is native to BC, AB, SK, and MB in Canada and occurs across the western and central US. It thrives in dry grasslands, open woodlands, foothills, and rocky slopes, at mid to high elevations.

Traditional Edible & Medicinal Info

Lupinus sericeus is not edible due to toxic alkaloids. Medicinally, infusions from leaves and flowers were used to reduce swelling and minor pain, while crushed leaves were applied as poultices for cuts and skin irritations.

⚠️ Toxicity Note: it contains alkaloids that can be harmful if ingested in large quantities, particularly to livestock and humans.