I found a package of Lupin seeds that I misplaced a few years ago. (packed for the year ending 2001 is indicated on the package) With nothing to lose, I nicked the hard shell of each seed with a razor blade and did the presoak in lukewarm water for almost an hour before setting them in the soil outside. It's kind of funny to go to such trouble, as they grow wild quite well along the highway here so it would seem the seeds would just take if simply tossed on the ground!
I hope they take. I've had good luck with them in the garden before, but I've always bought them as young plants from the garden center. The seeds I have are called "cruickshankii Sunrise", and they are a really neat mix of blue. I'll try and post a picture of the seed package.
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We have a rather large herd of deer that live in town permanently. They don't touch the lupins. However I had a really bad infestation of aphids last summer and 3 of 6 lupin plants survived. I have no idea where the aphids came from....never had them before. I waged war with soapy water, which worked, but like I say, only 3 plants survived.
Do the deer leave lupins alone?
thanks gals for the info...the l6 weeks to bloom worries me some...thats pretty much our whole summer :( but now after talking to the both of you...it's become a CHALLENGE...will keep u posted...we cant plant anything here before the 24th of May weekend anyways so gives me lots of time to find the seeds
Apparently they resent transplanting, so seeds are best sown where you want them to grow.
Yes, they do multiply. The roadside ones here seem to be mostly a dark purpleish colour. I often see people who pull over in their cars and dig the wild ones out!
The seed packet I have says this variety prefers a deeply dug, well-drained soil in full sun, and that days to bloom is 16 weeks.
One of my books says that the lupins can be short lived at 4 years, but I figure since they grow wild here I have a good shot with them. I have also read that sometimes the seeds that they multiply by will revert to either a blue or white colour. I've never had a lupin in my garden long enough to find out if that would be the case.
Hi everyone! I had one lupin in my garden 3-4 years ago, and now there's 10-12 lupins. They multiply. Lupins are my favorite plants. Lupins grow on the side of the road in New Brunswick. There millions of them in June. We always go for drives just to look at them. They're amazing!
well I am astonished...didnt have a clue there are so many colours...they are JUST what I have been looking for...any idea how long they take from seed to flower? What kind of soil and sun do they prefer?
Here's a picture of a mixed variety called Lupin Tutti Frutti, which Thompson & Morgan had on the cover of their 2002 seed catalogue. There's quite a few colours, and I think each of the different seed companies carry different names. (and you may find a selection as plants in your garden center)
I'm rather intrigued by a red one on the www.thompson-morgan site called Lupin regalis Morello Cherry. Their seed packets are available at the local garden center here, but I LOVE their seed catalogue. I just might get some of those this year.
u sure have peaked my interest...had never really thot of lupins...just love the colours tho...I envy your nice weather...my hubby is a "west coaster"...its still too early here to do much planting...we are still trying to fix the mole problem we had this winter...reseeding etc...we have rain this week so hopefully some of the grass roots will survive...dont lupins also come in pink as well as purple/mauve? Of all the flowers that are common ...I know the least about them...but rest assured by this time next year...I will be an expert LOL :)
I tried a couple of delphiniums in my garden for the first time last year, believe it or not, and I think the growing habit is similar as well. They both die back to the ground over winter, and both have impressive tall stalks that hold the blooms.
I think most lupins grow 3-4 feet, but there are miniature ones that grow 20-24". The seed pack for the ones I planted indicate 3-3 1/2 feet for these ones. A few other things to note about lupins are that there are a few that do not flower the first year, and also the seeds are poisonous if eaten. (as with many plants, but good to note)
Something I really like about the lupins is the shape of the leaves. They make sort of a star shape, and I really like how a bead of water looks when contained in the center of them after a light sprinkle or rain. The glob of water held there always catches my eye, as though it's a little jewel. I really like how the leaves in this shape are very recognizeable at only 1" growth stage, as I have so many weeds in my garden I often pull plants in error. I don't tend to do that with the tiny lupins when they begin growing among my horrific weeds. My soil was riddled with weeds before we moved here, and I think it will take at least a few more years of many hours before the weeding process lessens to become a more manageable maintenance task.
never thot of trying them from seed...how big will they grow in one year? I tend to get them confused with delphiniums...