Lupinus nanus 'Sky Lupine'

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California Native Plants California Poppy Ceanothus Dicentra Formosa 'Western Bleeding Heart' Fuchsia flowered gooseberry Iris douglasiana Manzanita Pink Flowering Currant Sidalcea malveflora 'Checkerbloom' Sky Lupine

Lupinus nanus 'Sky Lupine' One of our favorite wildflowers.  This littlest of the Lupines blooms as early as January.  It requires ample moisture to break down the seed coat.  In El Nino years, it is abundant throughout the state, along highways and covering many hillsides with it's sky blue inflorescens.  This little wildflower does need full sun as the little flowers succumb easily to "damping off. " This means they rot easily if they do not get enough sun.  Looks best in mass plantings as it will form a sky blue carpet across the ground.  Can also work in containers. Sow the seeds in late fall so as to take advantage of the winter rains to break down the seed coat.  Sandy or gravelly soils are best to prevent rot.  This wildlfower will bloom from January/February until the heat of April or May and will reseed itself very easily, but may not come back well in dry winter years.