Lupine

Arroyo Lupine is a California native that is found from Southern California to just north of San Franciso. It is an annual blooms the first year from seed. Pair with yellow lupine for lovely contrasting native blooms. Itis reseeds itself for blooms the following year. Hummingbirds and butterflies love this plant.  Gardeners love the east drough tolerant nature of this plant. Simply harvest to sow seeds where you'd like each year.  Botanical Names: Lupinus succulentus Characteristics:  Annual, self-seeding Plants grow to 2-4 feet tall Vibrant pastels of purple blooms Prefers full sun, rich loam is best that drains well 1 gram or ~32 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow directly in garden in early spring. No cold stratification is needed as Arroyo lupine is an annual.   Sow 1/4" deep Germination 14-25 days Thin 12-15" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Lupine’s dense spires of bright blue flowers signal the coming of spring. Lupine is the only food plant for the larvae of the endangered Karner Blue butterfly. Plants grow 2' tall on sandy loams to very dry sandy soils. Will not grow well in clay soils. Perennial. Hardy to zone 4. Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 4 Plants grow to 2 feet tall Spires of bright blue flowers Prefers sandy loam to dry sandy soil 25 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Germination is greatly increased by a 7-day cold treatment in a slightly damp paper towel in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Cold-treated seeds can be directly sown in spring or early summer. Untreated seeds can be sown outdoors in fall.   Sow 1/4" deep Germination 14-60 days Thin 12-15" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability

Texas Bluebonnet - If you have seen a field of Texas Bluebonnets in full bloom, it is site you will most likely never forget. Fields of blue blossoms, buzzing with bees and butterflies is amazing. The are really easy to take care and hardy to 85% of the United States, USDA Zones 4-8.  They prefer dry soil and in full sun.  The seeds, plants and flowers are poisonous to livestock and animals.  Botanical Name: Lupinus texensis Characteristics:  Cold hardy annual Hardy to zone 4, Zones 4-8 Plants grow to 8-12" Beautiful native plant that is beloved by pollinators Prefers alkaline dry soil 2g or ~65 Seeds Sowing Rates Packet sows 6-10 sq ft 1 oz sows 50 sq ft 22 oz for 1,000 65lbs for 1 acre Instructions - If you live in zones 6-8, fall is an ideal time to sow them but anytime the ground is workable come spring will work too. For those zones in 4-5 you can plant these very early in the spring once the ground is workable.  Alternatively Start Indoors - 4-6  weeks before the last frost, but treat them like spinach as they don't germinate in warm conditions.  Their roots develop in cooler temperatures Sow 1/4" deep Germination 10-20 days Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability

Yellow Lupine is a California native that is found in meadows prairies, and woodlands below 2,000 feet across the entire state. It is an annual and gardeners enjoy that it blooms in the first year of planting. Then is reseeds itself for blooms the following year. Hummingbirds and butterflies love this plant.  This is a must have for any gardener in California and is one of the easier lupines to raise. Simply harvest to sow seeds where you'd like each year.  Botanical Names:  Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus Characteristics:  Annual, self-seeding Plants grow to 2-3 feet tall Spires of bright yellow flowers Prefers full sun, rich loam is best that drains well 1 gram or ~40 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow directly in garden in early spring. No cold stratification is needed as yellow lupine is an annual.   Sow 1/4" deep Germination 14-25 days Thin 12-15" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability