Lupine~Friday's Flower

Lupines are a member of the pea family, which makes them a great addition to any garden.  They can fix nitrogen in the soil, thereby enriching the soil for their companion plants.  The bloom period is two months, somewhere between May and July, showing spectacular flower spikes.

Definitely on my top 10 list of favorite perennials, I like to see them in mass plantings.  They come in a variety of colors and bi-colors including white, cream, pink, red, magenta, blue, dark blue and many shades of purple.

They mostly like full sun and cooler nights, but benefit on a 90 degree day with some afternoon shade.  These nectar rich flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

I'm especially fond of the way water collects in the center of their palm leaf type of foliage.

Grown in zones 4-7, these beautiful flowers are a stunning centerpiece.