Lupinus WEST COUNTRY™ 'DESERT SUN'

Lupines are the inevitable item of English gardens as well as Czech woodlands. They come from North America and naturally grow in sunny locations of moist woodland edges and rocky slopes where their roots establish well in crevices that never lack moisture but are free draining.

Sarah Conibear from the Westcountry Nurseries is the breeder of many successful lupine varieties that have achieved a lot of medals including a gold medal from the Chelsea Flower Show Centenary Year. The nursery is located in the north-west of Devon, UK, and is proud to introduce so many gorgeous lupines.

Desert Sun is another gem among yellow flowering lupines and the breeder herself describes the colour as rich mustard yellow. I would agree only in case she means mustard flower, not mustard cream. The colour is bright yellow without either pale yellow or golden orange tones. As every lupine, Desert Sun, too, bears the typical fragrance, in this case a little bit sweeter and less strong. Stems are about 80-90 cm tall. Blooming begins in late June or early July and may continue for 4-6 weeks if spent flowers are removed as soon as they begin to fade. If the plant is weak and unsightly after flowering cut it back and it will produce a nice mound of new foliage that will be attractive until the end of the growing season. If you follow a regular monthly feeding programme it will make further flowers in several flushes until late autumn. Deciduous, palmate leaves are deep green and very attractive as they are finely divided. Plant is protected by US patent No. PP23073 from 2012.

Lupines like free draining soil that retains moisture and is preferably acidic. They can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and distribute it through their roots. This is why they are often used as pioneer plants in poor soils. Beware of slugs which can devastate both your seedlings as well as old clumps. The flowering spikes are sturdy but fleshy and should be planted where they can be protected from the extreme wind blasts that could bend or break them. Unlike sweet-lupines whose seeds are edible, ornamental lupines (bitter-lupines) can be harmful if eaten. These plants are short-lived and should be dug out in the spring every 3-5 years, woody parts removed, and new plants put pack to encourage fresh growth. Hardy to about -34°C.

Last update 09-10-2016