Lupinus diffusus
(Sky-blue Lupine)
Common Names, Latin Name, and Family
Oak ridge lupine, skyblue lupine, and spreading lupine.
Its Latin name is Lupinus diffusus.
It is found in the Fabaceae, or pea, family.
Form
A perennial wildflower that grows in clumps and when in bloom may reach a height of around three feet.
Leaves
The leaves are thick and velvety. They are stalked, have entire margins, and are ovate to elliptic in shape.
Flowers
The flowers appear in the late winter and early spring. They are sky blue in color and pea flower shaped.
Habitat
It grows in sandhills, pinelands, scrub, and dry forests in open areas of the canopy.
Native Range
It is native to the following states: AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, and SC.
Landscape Use
It is not a good candidate for home landscape use because it is notoriously difficult to start from seed (it needs to be direct sown) and needs a specific type of habitat to thrive.
If you are lucky enough to have a natural stand of pines, or sandhill, you may be able to find a plant or two at a nursery and get it started it that area of your property, but trying to get this beauty to grow in the home landscape is a labor or love for sure.
Wildlife Uses
The flowers attract pollinators such as butterflies, bees, beetles and wasps.
The seeds are eaten by songbirds and gamebirds.
It is the larval food for the genista broom moth (Uresiphita reversalis).
Propagation
It is best to purchase from a native nursery, but even then if the roots are too disturbed during planting the plant will not survive.
It can be grown from seed if sown directly in the ground, but it is notoriously difficult.