Back to plants
Colourful lupins with tall flower spikes in full sunPerennials

Lupinus polyphyllus

Lupin

lupinbee-friendlycolourful flowerscottage gardennitrogen fixer

The lupin is a striking perennial with tall, candle-shaped flower spikes in spectacular colours. From June to July, this plant adorns the garden with blue, pink, purple, or white flower spires. The palmate leaves form a decorative foliage canopy. As a legume, the lupin enriches the soil with nitrogen.

Want to see Lupin in your garden?

1 minute, no credit card

Start free design
Free design

Want to see Lupin in your garden? Make a free design now.

Upload a photo, pick a style, and get a photorealistic design with plant list in under a minute.

See your garden free

400+ gardens designed already

No credit card required

Before
After

Characteristics

Sun
Full sun
Water
Medium
Height
80–120 cm
Spread
40–60 cm
Hardiness zone
4–8
Family
Fabaceae
Evergreen
No
Flower colors
blue, pink, purple, white
Wildlife value
bees, butterflies

Bloom period

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Care guide

Plant in full sun in slightly acidic to neutral, well-drained soil. Lupins dislike chalky or heavy clay ground. Water regularly but avoid waterlogging. Support tall flower stems with plant stakes in windy locations.

Pruning tips

Remove spent flower stems immediately after blooming to encourage a second flush. Cut the plant back to ground level in autumn. Divide plants every three to four years in spring to keep them vigorous.

Good companions

Pink-purple coneflower with orange-brown cone in a sunny borderPerennials

Echinacea purpurea

Purple Coneflower

Purple Coneflower is a sturdy perennial with distinctive pink-purple petals surrounding an orange-brown cone. The flowers appear from July to September and are a magnet for butterflies and bees. In autumn and winter, the seed heads attract goldfinches and other seed-eating birds.

Full sunLow60–120 cm
Purple-blue flower spikes of woodland sage in a sunny borderPerennials

Salvia nemorosa

Woodland Sage

Woodland Sage is a compact perennial with striking purple-blue flower spikes blooming from June to August. It attracts plenty of bees and butterflies and works well in sunny borders. Cutting back spent flower stems often triggers a second flush of blooms.

Full sunLow30–60 cm
Yellow yarrow with flat flower clusters in a sunny borderPerennials

Achillea millefolium

Yarrow

Yarrow is a robust native perennial with finely divided, fern-like foliage and flat flower clusters in yellow, white, or pink. The plant blooms prolifically from June to September, attracting countless pollinators. Yarrow is remarkably drought-resistant and fits almost any garden style, from prairie borders to wildflower meadows.

Full sunLow50–80 cm