Plant Details

Lupinus perennis

Sundial lupine, Wild lupine

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

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Common names

14 names · 12 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Sundial lupine[1]
  • Wild lupine[1]
Other languages (11)
Dutch
  • Wilde lupine[1]
French
  • Lupin vivace[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 宿根羽扇豆[1]
Danish
  • fåbladet lupin[1]
Estonian
  • mitmeaastane hundiuba[1]
  • mitmeaastane lupiin[1]
Finnish
  • pulskalupiini[1]
Japanese
  • ハウチワマメ[1]
Norwegian
Russian
  • Люпин многолетний[1]
Slovak
  • vlčí bôb trváci[1]
Swedish
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 perennis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Sundial Lupine — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • Lupin vivace — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • mitmeaastane lupiin — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • mitmeaastane hundiuba — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • wild lupine — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • jærlupin — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • Люпин многолетний — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • 宿根羽扇豆 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • ハウチワマメ — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • gruslupin — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • fåbladet lupin — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • pulskalupiini — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • Wilde lupine — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.
  • vlčí bôb trváci — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 81528; Lupinus perennis.

General information

Scientific name: Lupinus perennis
Accepted name (Kew): Lupinus perennis L. 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: Sundial lupine, Wild lupine
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.3–0.76 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.15–0.3 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Very Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Seed, Seed pod
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer

Description

Cooked seeds are used as a protein-rich vegetable or savory dish, similar to cooked beans. They can also be roasted and ground into powder. The seed has a bitter taste due to toxic alkaloids that must first be thoroughly rinsed before cooking. Seed pods can also be cooked.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

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 58365; name ID 2346839; Lupinus perennis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 563341, ID 3WFKP: Lupinus perennis L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Lupinus perennis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .