What they prefer are cool summers. They sometimes get what they want here. Sometimes, we have summers that rarely get above 80°F.

They are not a big fan of afternoon sun .I use tall plants like poppies and phlox to shade then .I have heard they like a lower p.h.,my p.h. is 7.8 and they do fine.The lifespan seems to be shorter if you let them go to seed .I'v never been able to get cuttings to work.

I'm in 6b & LOVE lupines. I've never done cuttings, but don't think there is a need. Seed works great! Mine grow equally well in sun, shade, partial sun.

The yellow and white lupin will just about survive my alkaline soil (while not really thriving) but all the rest (apart from tree lupin) simply diminish after the first year.

Baptisia and indigofera have proved more than adequate substitutes for this legume lover.

Hi. I started lupins from seed and they are now popping through the soil. My question is:

Will I get blossoms this year or do I have to wait for next year? I am in Zone 3 and the weather does get awfully hot sometimes, with endless sunshine. Would using a shade cloth help? Thanks!

Pronounced 'lupin'. Spelled lupine. :)

Regarding whether or not it will flower its first year...it depends, some varieties do - like 'Cherry Morello."

Thanks. It is a hybrid called Russell. I looked for Cherry Morello and it is a gorgeous colour.

Some of my perennial lupines have reverted to lavender, but it is still quite pretty! Almost looks like miniature lady slippers.

Thanks for the nice photo. I wonder if I'll have any lupins at all. After they came up, I put collars around them, but I see now that the cut worms got in anyway, and killed half of them. Oh, woe is me!