Sundial Lupine
Also known as: Lupinus perennis · Wild Lupine · Wild Perennial Lupine
What's special about Sundial Lupine
Native eastern lupine — sole larval host for endangered Karner blue butterfly.
Growing this variety
Sundial Lupine follows the same growing basics as Lupine. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Lupine family.
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Nick or soak seed 24 hours to break dormancy. Sows best where it will grow — long taproot resents transplant. Fixes its own nitrogen; do not overfeed.
Pre-sow treatment
Nick seed coat or soak in warm water 24 hours before sowing.
Grower's tip
Tall spires in blue, purple, pink, yellow, white. Deadhead for a second flush. Seeds and plant are toxic to livestock.
Soil preferences
Well-drained garden soil. Native/wildflower species prefer lean soil; cutting flowers prefer richer beds.
6.0–7.0
Work 1 in of compost into beds before sowing. Skip nitrogen fertilizer on wildflowers — it favors foliage over blooms.
Watering
1 in per week during establishment, drought-tolerant once rooted for most species.
Deep, infrequent soakings at the base. Overhead water on ornamentals promotes botrytis and rust.
Overwatered: rotted crowns, mildew, floppy stems. Underwatered: small blooms, curled leaves, quick fade.
Prefers top-watering — Trees are always top-watered — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering only makes sense for nursery seedlings.
Temperature tolerance
60–80°F (16–27°C) ideal for most annuals
50–65°F (10–18°C)
Cool-season annuals (larkspur, poppy, snapdragon) tolerate light frost; warm-season annuals (zinnia, cosmos, marigold) are frost-tender.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
8–14 in (20–35 cm) wide
Compact and dwarf types do best in pots; tall cutting flowers need staking.
Succession planting
Sow cutting flowers (zinnia, cosmos, sunflower) every 3 weeks through midsummer for continuous cut stems.
Detailed harvesting
Cut in early morning when stems are turgid. For cutting varieties, harvest when the bud is just showing color and 1–2 outer petals have opened.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Immediately re-cut stems underwater and place in clean cool water for 4 hrs before arranging. Petals can be dried on screens for potpourri or crafts.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Cut flowers, dried arrangements, pollinator habitat, edible garnishes (borage, nasturtium, calendula, viola).
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Mostly insect-pollinated (outcrossing).
For pure strains, isolate 150–800 ft or bag heads. Wildflower mixes are meant to cross freely.
Stop deadheading favorite blooms; let heads dry brown and rattling on the stem, then collect into a paper bag.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for lupine in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Sundial Lupine Lupine notes
Sundial Lupine Lupine seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
From your kitchen — grow lupine from what you already have
Deadhead less. Let the best blooms fade and set seed on the plant — that's your next year's packet.
- 1Mark 2–3 of your favorite flowers with a bit of yarn and stop deadheading them.
- 2Wait until the seed head or pod dries fully on the plant — brown, papery, and rattling.
- 3Cut whole heads into a paper bag on a dry day; shake or rub to free seed.
- 4Sieve out chaff and store cool and dry in a labeled envelope.
Storage: 2–5 years for most flower seed.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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Other Lupine varieties
Sickle Keeled Lupine
Native western lupine — sickle-shaped seedpods.
Bicolor Lupine
Small annual native lupine — companion to California poppy.
Bigleaf Lupine
Tall native western lupine — parent of showy Russell hybrids.
River Lupine
Streamside northwestern native lupine.
Texas Bluebonnet
Texas state flower — carpets of vivid blue in spring.