Wild Lupine - Lupinus perennis

These are in the 2" square pot.

Features: The only Lupine native to Illinois, this stunning plant is found most often in Black Oak savannas and sandy pine barrens, where it is adapted to periodic fires. This can make it somewhat finicky in a garden situation, where it may not flourish if not totally happy with conditions. Sandy soil is a must.

It is the only host plant for the caterpillars of the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly which has been found in parts of northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, among others. Many studies have looked into restoring its habitat with lupines. Many species of native bees gather pollen from the lovely purple flowers and thus pollinate them.

Light: Full to partial sun. Some tree shade or else more moisture is needed

Soil: Medium to dry; sandy and somewhat acidic preferred

Height:  1 - 2.5 feet

Blooms: May to June

There is an ongoing Karner Blue Butterfly Federal Recovery Plan

See more information and photos at: Illinois Wildflowers and USDA Plants Database

Images 1,2 Illinois Wildflowers; 3 army.mil, 4, "Dennis Moore" and lupines from Monty Python (though those are the European species and how some first heard of this plant :) )