Lupinus polyphyllus
Perennial lupin, Russell lupin: these hybrids owe their name to George Russell, an English gardener who devoted more than twenty years of his retirement to patiently selecting the most beautiful colors before presenting them to the public in 1937. Their upright flower spikes make them one of the most beautiful vertical accents in a perennial garden.
Characteristics:
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Spectacular flower spikes: flowers approximately 2 cm wide, arranged in tight whorls to form upright spikes that make a strong statement in borders.
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Architectural foliage: compound palmate leaves that are highly decorative even when not in bloom and beautifully catch droplets of dew.
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Rapid growth: vigorous rooting, with a taproot that grows deep into the soil.
Sowing advice:
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Exposure: full sun to partial shade.
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Soil: light, deep, preferably sandy, moist but very well drained, and above all neutral to acidic — this is the critical point: lupins decline in calcareous soil, where their foliage turns yellow. There is no need to fertilize, as they fix nitrogen from the air themselves.
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Method: sow directly in place, as the taproot does not tolerate transplanting well. Soak the seeds for 24 hours in lukewarm water before sowing: their seed coat is hard, and this significantly improves germination. See how to sow your seeds.
Care advice:
- Water regularly to keep the soil moist, but never leave it waterlogged.
- Cut off spent flower spikes to encourage a second bloom in late summer, or leave a few to set seed.
Beneficial pairings:
Benefits for biodiversity:
- Its flowers are especially sought after by bumblebees, which are the only insects powerful enough to force them open and access the pollen.
- Its root nodules fix atmospheric nitrogen and nourish soil microbial life — see the basics of living soil.
Harvesting your own seeds:
Leave the hairy pods to turn brown and dry on the plant, then harvest them before they open on their own by twisting. Please note: as Russell lupins are hybrids, seedlings produce a range of colors, often different from the parent plant — that is the surprise of reseeding. See how to store your seeds.
Commitment to Quality: at SemiSauvage - Permaculture, we grow and select our seeds with respect for all living things as our guiding principle. Based near the Auvergne Volcanoes, we choose reproducible, non-hybrid varieties, test them for germination rates, and carefully sort and package them without any chemical treatment. Our belief: to give gardeners back the ability to sow, year after year, seeds that truly belong to them.
Add vertical interest to your borders with these Russell dwarf lupin seeds.
