Lupinus diffusus

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

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Read about Lupinus diffusus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Lupinus diffusus, Nutt. Deer Cabbage. St. decumbent and many-branched, 1-2 ft., somewhat woody at the base, densely silky: lvs. large, oval or oblong- ovate, obtuse, mucronate, on long, soft-silky petioles :fls.more or less alternate, on a very long (6-12 in.) spike, light blue, the standard with a greenish yellow center: pods oblong, flattish, N. C. to Fla.—Hardiness N. not determined. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Lupinus diffusus
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Genisteae Genus: Lupinus Subgenus: Platycarpos (Wats.) Kurl. Species: L. diffusus
Binomial name
Lupinus diffusus Nutt.

Lupinus diffusus (Oak Ridge Lupine, Spreading Lupine, or Sky-blue Lupine) is a species of lupine native to the southeastern United States, from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Mississippi. It is restricted to very dry, sandy soils, often in open pine or oak woodland, and is an endangered species.

It is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to 30-50 cm tall. The leaves are palmately compound with 3-5 leaflets 6-12 cm long and 3-5 cm broad, gray-green to silvery green, covered with fine white hairs. The flowers are pale blue or violet, produced in a dense spike 15-30 cm long.

Cultivation

It is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens for its flowers and silvery leaves, produced in early spring.

References and external links

• USDA PLants Profile: Lupinus diffusus
• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Lupinus diffusus
• Photos of Lupinus diffusus