Wikipedia states: Lupinus polyphyllus (Large-leaved Lupine, Big-leaved Lupine, or, primarily in cultivation, Garden Lupin) is a species of lupine (lupin) native to western North America from southern Alaska and British Columbia east to Alberta and western Wyoming, and south to Utah and California. It commonly grows along streams and creeks, preferring moist habitats. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with stout stems growing to 1.5 m tall. The leaves are palmately compound with (5-) 9-17 leaflets 3-15 cm long. The flowers are produced on a tall spike, each flower 1-1.5 cm long, most commonly blue to purple in wild plants. There are five varieties: Lupinus polyphyllus var. burkei – Interior northwestern United States Lupinus polyphyllus var. humicola – Interior western North America Lupinus polyphyllus var. pallidipes – Western Oregon and Washington (Willamette Valley) Lupinus polyphyllus var. polyphyllus – Coastal western North America Lupinus polyphyllus var. prunophilus – Interior western North America Cultivation and uses: Garden cultivars of Lupinus polyphyllus It is commonly used in gardens for its flowers; numerous cultivars have been selected for differing flower color, including red, pink, white, blue, and multicolored with different colors on different petals. Often hybrids between L. polyphyllus and L. arboreus are used, and sold under the name Rainbow Lupin. They are very hardy and can easily become invasive and hard to get rid of. Low alkaloidal or sweet cultivars of this lupin suitable for fodder crops have been bred. To avoid restoration of alkaloid synthesis in cross-pollinated species of lupin, a new approach has been developed on the basis of specific crossing. Only compatible forms are involved in hybridization, with their low alkaloid content controlled by one and the same genetic system. These approaches have allowed transforming this bitter weed into a valuable fodder crop. In the conditions of Northwest Russia positive results from the use of the sweet commercial cultivar 'Pervenec' (first sweet variety), which is included in the State Catalogue of selection achievements of Russia. Breeding of sweet lupin is carried out also in Finland. [edit]Russell Hybrids Close up of a Russell hybrid lupin in a typical garden setting, UK, England. The herbaceous lupin, Lupinus polyphyllus, arrived in Britain from America in the 1820s, almost a century later George Russell, a 53 year old horticulturalist from UK York started to breed the famous Russell hybrids. Lupinus polphyllus originally were of basic colours and had large gaps in the flowering spike, without the use of modern day plant breeding techniques he took to ruthlessly pulling out any plants which he deemed to be unacceptable in growth or display. He spent two decades single-mindedly trying to breed the perfect lupin, crossing L. polyphyllus with L. arboreus and one or more annual species. Over the decades the plants he selected to grow on developed flower spikes which were denser, larger and more colourful than the original Lupinus polyphyllus. His work may have gone unrecognised if he wasn't pushed by another nurseryman called James Baker to show the plants to the public, its understood the pair worked together for several years to perfect the Russel Hybrid, before they were displayed at the Royal Horticultural Society's June show in 1937 – where their brightly coloured, tightly packed spires won awards. [1] The templates created by Russell are still used by other specialist lupin horticulturalist's today, Maurice and Brian Woodfield, nurserymen from Stratford-upon-Avon, received the RHS Veitch Memorial Medal for their work on lupins in 2000. They've created more complex plants with more varied and vivid bi-coloured spikes, the red and yellow, and red and purple flowers are particular highlights of the 'Woodfield' lupin variety. [2]. In 2009, Sarah Conibear who runs the Westcountry Nurseries, displayed several new varieties including the ‘Beefeater', about which the RHS writer Graham Rice commented [the beefeater] "has what looks to be the best red lupin we've seen so far." [3] [edit]Invasive species Russell lupins alongside a road in Canterbury, New Zealand. In New Zealand, where it is known as the Russell lupin, Lupinus polyphyllus is classed as an adventive species[4] and covers large areas next to roadsides, pastures and riverbeds, especially in the Canterbury region. It is documented as being first naturalised in 1958 and it has been suggested that tour bus drivers deliberately spread seeds of the plant to promote colourful roadside vegetation in areas which some tourists may consider to be rather drab. The plant threatens indigenous species especially when it invades the braided river beds in the South Island.[5] [edit]References This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008) ^ "BBC gardeners world article". BBC. Retrieved 2009-07-27. ^ "Telegraph Lupin article". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-07-27. ^ "RHS article". RHS. Retrieved 2009-07-27. ^ "Lupinus polyphyllus". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2008-12-22. ^ "Threats & impacts - Russell lipin". Department of Conservation. June 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-22. [edit]External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lupinus polyphyllus Germplasm Resources Information Network: Lupinus polyphyllus Plants of British Columbia: Lupinus polyphyllus Jepson Flora Project: Lupinus polyphyllus Lupins - geography, classification, genetic resources Perennial forms of Washington lupin (L. polyphyllus Lindl.) for effective use in Finland Categories: Lupinus

Perennial with characteristic palmate leaves. Each leaf has 6 to 9 narrow leaflets. The flowers, blue to blue violet, pea like and produced at the end of branches. Seeds are produced in pea like pods. Blooms, 6 to 18 inches long, late spring to early summer. Grown in gardens, fields and roadsides. pH 6 to 8.