The first one up this year is pink, but I have a really nice purple one that is going to bloom soon also. I only have 3 mature ones, but I've been working on increasing the supply in my garden since they seem to like it here. I planted some new purchased seeds in an empty space to start a new colour for next year, and a few have come up so that looks like it will be successful.
I'm working on mass-planting cottagey flowers i love. I was successful in saving seeds from my delphiniums to increase the number of those I have, but seeds saved from my lupins last year got thrown out when DH was 'helping me'. (don't ask!) The Hollyhock project is kind of up in the air in terms of success: I have a lot of them now, but I am not fond of dealing with the rust they get.
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I accidentally bought seeds for an annual lupin or lupine, and I had no success with that. I prefer the seeds sold as 'hardy perennials', and i've had better luck with those. The ones I just planted are seeds packaged by Thompson % Morgan, called regalis Sundown. Looks like they should be red! This type grows 3-4 feet, blooms early summer, and prefers full sun to light shade. I think keeping them in the sun is better, as I have one lupine in behind a thick lamp post and it has a lot of aphids-I think the shade encourages those so a sunnier spot is much better. These ones I planted this year often bloom the first year, but usually the second year is when the best flowering starts.
I get good blooms in about June, and sometimes again after if the summer is good, but it's not like a non-stop blooming plant. Still, as I like the look of the 'star' leaves, I enjoy having it in the garden even when the blooms are gone. It is often said that they are short-lived perennials, so I guess the lifespan depends on a few factors and it is always good to let some seeds scatter as an insurance policy for next year.
I would think in colder climates it would be better to start them indoors in seed start mix and then plant out after last frost so you have earlier blooms. Either way, planted indoors first or outdoors, I'd stick the seeds in a baggie in the freezer for a month in advance to give them a good winter chill, and then once you remove them and get them at room temp. soak them for 24 hours to soften the hard shell.
These Lupins are gorgeous. Any idea if they would grow okay in Montreal? We've just put in a pool & have all our landscaping around the pool to do, but I am totally clueless on evrything to do with gardening. These would be beautiful I think.
If you don't mind, I have a few questions:
-Do I gather you should plant these from seed (can't buy them already flowered)?
- How long do they flower for?
- Do they grow very tall?
- Are they perennials - will come back each year?
Thanks in advance
The seeds DH tossed were outside getting a good winter freeze with all that snowy, cold weather we had. I didn't even have to use the freezer! Darn-wish that man would stop helping me. What they say about one man's trash is another man's treasure is kind of poignant here and translates to: I DON'T CARE IF IT LOOKS LIKE GARBAGE, THAT'S GARDENING STUFF! :laugh:
What I really like about starting new lupines from seed is that I don't struggle with identifying them in the garden. Their little star-like leaves show up when they are just teeny, so there is no mistaking them for weeds. (UNLESS YOU ARE ONE STAR OF A HELPFUL HUSBAND WITH A WEED-WHACKER IN HAND, OR A ONCE-IN-A-BLUE-MOON NOTION TO ACTUALLY WEED THE GARDEN FOR ME!)
The first picture shows one of the little starlings next to a penny, to illustrate how soon its leaf shape shows true. That's one that's from a package of seeds I chilled in the freezer for a month before soaking for 24 hours and planting outside. The second picture shows the first 'seed leaves' with the star-shaped leaves just out. No mistaking these babies for weeds! (not me, anyway!)
your lupins are gorgeous...i'm so jealous....your gardening season is way ahead of ours. my dafs are just blooming now.
a hint about saving lupin seeds...freeze them over the winter. they grow wild here...in every colour you can imagin.....they're one of my faves. it's just breath taking to seen them growing in huge masses. btw...they also love acidic soil, so do what you can to provide them it. :)
There are some that grow wild here as well, along the highways and overpasses, but each year there are always people out there digging them up. If ever I get too many from seed I'll just pot them up with a "FREE" sign at the curb, and I think they'll go!
Very nice! DH and I were at PlantWorld today and looking at lupins, we find it hilarious because back in NS you would find wild ones all over the place but not so much up here in Toronto. We also passed the Columbines which, for us, were already planted in our back when we bought our place...the only thing I find is that they reseed like mad and I have at least 3-4 new ones every year :D