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 December
2001
 Iris
unguicularis
November
2001
Hymenoxis
herbacea
October
2001
Pellaea
atropurpurea
September
2001
Zauschneria
garrettii
August
2001
Platycodon
grandiflorum
'Sentimental
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July
2001
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involucrata
June
2001
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May
2001
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pedata 'Bicolor'
April
2001
Anemonella
thalictroides
March
2001
Fritillaria
pudica
February
2001
Castilleja
rupicola
 January
2001
Lupinus
lepidus var. lobbii
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Plant
of the Month
January
2001
Lupinus
lepidus var. lobbii
by Iza Goroff
Lupinus
lepidus var. lobbii is a member of the Fabaceae, the
family which is popularly called the legumes. The species
Lupinus lepidus is found from
the Rocky Mountains west to the Pacific Ocean where it bears
the common name of prairie lupin.
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii is
the alpine variety, as attractive as any lupine. It is found
in alpine and subalpine areas in the Cascade Mountains and
the Olympic Mountains, extending from northern California
into British Columbia. It is common in Crater Lake National
Park in Oregon, in the Olympics, and on Mount Rainier. In
the Olympics there is a sudden transition from the subalpine
lupine (L. latifolius var. subalpinum
= L. subalpinum = L. arcticus var. subalpinum) to
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii as
one ascends. On one's left one can see only the subalpine
lupine; on your right only L. lepidus
var. lobbii. Lupinus lepidus
var. lobbii was the first plant to colonize the
devastated slopes of Mount St. Helens.
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii
is a small plant with foliage only an inch or two (3 - 5 cm)
above the ground and perhaps 6" -m 12" (15 -30 cm wide). It
is gray foliaged with small leaflets. In flower it is about
4" (10 cm) tall. There is some variation in color from plant
to plant from good blues to purple blues and more or less
contrast with the white.
I have not grown the plant myself, so I requested
comments from expert growers on Alpine-L,
the Internet rock garden discussion group. What I report
here is a composite of what was sent to me by Nina Lambert,
Loren Russell, Anna Leggatt, Bob Nold, Anthony Goode, Rick
Lupp, Ernie O'Byrne, and Franz Hadacek, each of whom
responded. The only practical means of propagation is
growing it from seed. Seeds germinate readily, especially if
one abrades or punctures the seed coat in advance of sowing.
The problem comes with transplanting; very small plants
develop very long roots which are easily damaged beyond the
plants ability to recover. There are two strategies to
overcome the problem - either plant the seed where you want
the plant to grow or plant the seeds singly in very long (at
least 3" = 8 cm) and narrow pots, transplanting them from
pots while still quite small. The soil in which the plant is
native is essentially volcanic ash, a mixture of coarse and
fine particles. Those who have had some success with the
plant have planted them in full sun in sand. The one person
who had greatest success used pieces of lava in the mix.
"Some success" means getting the plants to flower at least
once and maybe twice before death; "greatest success" means
that the plants have lived through more than three
flowerings and are still healthy. In its native environment
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii
receives little summer rain, but it experiences frequent
cold, dry mists from which it can get the small amount of
moisture it needs. Like other legumes
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii has
root nodules which house bacteria which fix nitrogen,
providing fertilizer for the plant. Volcanic ash does
contain both potassium and phosphates so if one uses sand a
low nitrogen fertilizer would be useful. My brief summary of
what is likely to work for its cultivation is:
soil - volcanic ash, no humus
full sun - north slope to maintain cool temperatures
plant from seed in situ
mist lightly, daily with restricted watering
Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii
is a plant worthy of special care.
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