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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Lupinus arboreus''
| image = arboreus_infl.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Inflorescence of ''Lupinus arboreus''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Faboideae]]
| tribus = [[Genisteae]]
| genus = '''''[[Lupin]]us'''''
| subgenus = '''''Platycarpos''''' [http://koti.mbnet.fi/bkurl/Classific.htm (Wats.) Kurl.]
| species = '''''L. arboreus'''''
| binomial = ''Lupinus arboreus''
| binomial_authority = [[John Sims|Sims]]
}}

'''''Lupinus arboreus''''' ('''Yellow Bush Lupine''') is a species of [[lupin]]e native to the western [[United States]] in [[California]], where it is widely distributed [[coast]]al scrub and [[sand]] [[dune]]s. Because it has been widely introduced, there is some uncertainty about its native range; it is thought to be native from [[Point Reyes National Seashore]] south to [[San Luis Obispo County, California|San Luis Obispo County]].

[[Image:Arboreus.jpg|thumbnail|left|Yellow Bush Lupine in flower]]
It is a perennial [[shrub]] growing to 2 m tall (hence the alternative common name, '''tree lupine''') in sheltered situations, but more typically 1-1.5 m tall. It has green to gray-green palmate leaves, with 5-12 leaflets per leaf. The leaflets are 2-6 cm long, often sparsely covered with fine silky hairs. Both yellow and lilac to purple flowering forms are known; however, the yellow form is more common, except in the north of the species' range. It is capable of tolerating temperatures down to -12°C and living for up to seven years.

===Cultivation===
The yellow-flowering form is widely grown as an [[ornamental plant]] for its attractive yellow flowers and also to bind drifting sand dunes. It has however escaped from cultivation to become an [[invasive species]] in many areas. Outside of its native range in North America, it is somewhat invasive both in southern California, and further north to southwestern [[Canada]]. It has also been introduced in western [[Europe]], [[Australia]] (where it is considered a potential noxious weed), [[New Zealand]], and southern [[South America]], including the [[Falkland Islands]].

Like all members of the family [[Fabaceae]], it is an effective [[nitrogen fixation|fixer]] of [[nitrogen]] in the soil. Where it has been introduced, it changes the chemistry of the soil, and therefore allows other exotics to establish themselves, to the detriment of native vegetation adapted to low nitrogen levels. It also [[hybrid]]izes with other lupine species such as ''[[Lupinus littoralis]]'' (seashore lupin) and ''[[Lupinus rivularis]]'' (riverbank lupin), further endangering the survival of those forms.

===Related species===
A number of other related species of lupine also grow as bushes. They include:
*''[[Lupinus chamissonis]]'' Chamisso bush lupine, silver bush lupine
*''[[Lupinus albifrons]]'' Bush lupine
*''[[Lupinus excubitus]]'' Grape soda lupine
*''[[Lupinus longifolius]]'' Longleaf bush lupine

==External links==
* [http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=60&surveynumber=182 California Invasive Plant Council report on yellow bush lupine]
* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Lupinus+arboreus Jepson Flora Project: ''Lupinus arboreus'']

[[Category:Faboideae]]
[[Category:Flora of California]]
[[Category:Invasive species]]
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