Plant Details

Lupinus arboreus

Tree lupine

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, harvest period and uses of Lupinus arboreus.

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Common names

18 names · 12 languages
EnglishYour language
  • coastal bush lupine[1]
  • tree lupin[1]
  • Tree lupine[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • yellow bush lupine[1]
Other languages (11)
Dutch
  • Boomlupine
French
  • Lupin arborescent[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 叢羽扇豆[1]
  • 木本羽扇豆[1]
Estonian
  • puis-hundiuba[1]
  • puislupiin[1]
Lithuanian
  • Krūminis lubinas[1]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Łubin krzewiasty[1]
Russian
  • Люпин древовидный[1]
Slovak
  • vlčí bôb stromovitý[1]
Spanish
  • Altramuz De Chaparral Dorado[1]
  • Garbancillo Dorado de chaparral[1]
Swedish
  • gul busklupin[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Lupinus arboreus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • coastal bush lupine — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • yellow bush lupine — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • tree lupine — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • tree lupin — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • puislupiin — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • puis-hundiuba — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • trelupin — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • 木本羽扇豆 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • 叢羽扇豆 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • Krūminis lubinas — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • gul busklupin — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • Люпин древовидный — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • Garbancillo Dorado de chaparral — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • Altramuz De Chaparral Dorado — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • Łubin krzewiasty — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • Lupin arborescent — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.
  • vlčí bôb stromovitý — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 61010; Lupinus arboreus.

General information

Scientific name: Lupinus arboreus
Accepted name (Kew): Lupinus arboreus Sims View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Lupinus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Tree lupine
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.50 m
Spread: 1.20 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 7-10
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
-
Edibility rating:
(0)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Pioneer species, Nitrogen fixer, Fragrant, Dye

Description

The flowers produce a bright yellow dye. The root fibers have been used to make rope for nets and similar items. Plants are used in soil remediation projects to stabilize sandy soils and dunes. Because they grow quickly and are tolerant of marine exposure, they provide rapid shelter for other plants and enrich the soil with nitrogen. It is an excellent pioneer plant in permaculture; even in exposed locations, it grows quickly to its maximum height of about 1.5 meters and provides shelter for other less tolerant plants to grow. It is especially useful for helping to establish shrubs and herbaceous perennials in small gardens.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 60722; name ID 2348057; Lupinus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 60508; name ID 2347978; Lupinus arboreus Sims.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Lupinus arboreus

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 563043, ID 3WF6B: Lupinus arboreus Sims (accepted).

    Source checked on .