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Plant Profile: Lupinus - Russel Lupins

Lupinus

Lupinus - Russel Lupins - Lupinus x polyphyllus

Family: Fabaceae

Common Name(s): Russel Lupins

Native to: Southern Europe, Americas & Northern Africa

Flowering: Summer

Watering: Requires moderate watering during growing season

Planting Aspect: Full sun to part shade

Preferred Climate: Temperate


Description

An excellent strain of strong growing lupins which bears long spikes of large strongly coloured flowers in most colours of the rainbow including bicolor. Russell Lupins are a clump forming perennial that produces stout, erect and hairy stems to 1 metre tall with 9 to 17 lanceolate leaves and showy, colourful pea-flowers in summer. They are very popular drought and frost resistant plant for most herbaceous garden borders due to their easy and rapid growing habit. They are also widely recognised as a soil legume which adds nitrogen to the ground when dug in.

Cultivation

Lupins prefer climates with cool, wet, winters and long dry summers. Plant them in full sun in a well drained, moderately fertile, slightly acidic, sandy type soil. Provide plenty of moisture in the growing season and in dry areas cover the soil with a good layer of mulch. To prolong the plant life, cut away all spent flower stems and prevent self seeding. Lupins need to be protected from slugs and snails.
Revised: 15th Dec 2009 @ 5:29 AM
Keywords: lupinus, russel lupins, fabaceae, lupins, lupinus, russel, plant, growing, nursery, soil