Bajada Lupine

Lupinus concinnus

About the Plant

Bajada lupine is a native, spring-blooming annual. The pink-to-purple flowers appear just a bit later than those of Coulter's lupine, which is the more common, showier lupine in our area. In comparison, bajada lupine has hairier leaves, with wider leaflets and flowers that are almost hidden in the foliage.

Bajada lupine needs no care from you other than to leave it alone until it dies back and seeds are released.

Wildlife value: provides nectar for pollinators

More Information

Weekly Plant on lupine

Map of distribution in US (yellow indicates plant is native but rare)

Technical botanical description from SEINet

ID Characteristics

This plant is in the Fabaceae - the legume (pea and bean) family.
bajada lupine blooming at Academy Village
Bajada lupine is a ground-hugging plant that usually grows to only 6-8 inches high and perhaps as wide.
bajada lupine blooming at Academy Village
The basal leaves are palmately compound with 5-9  very hairy leaflets. The leaf overall is about 3 inches long with the leaflets about 1 inch wide. Each leaflet is widest above the middle.
Lupinus concinnus
The flower stalk is short and almost hidden by the leaves, with a few alternate leaves. The newest flowers are at the tip of the stalk. Each flower is 1/4 x 1/4 inch. Plants in our area have pinkish flowers, though color can vary to a darker purple.
Lupinus concinnus
Fruit is oblong, hairy, and less than an inch long.