Lupinus...any growing tips???

Question

I have tried growing Lupine in Zone #5, but have no luck. I hear it does really well further north. Any advice as to how I can get it to bloom in the midwest - Kansas City area???

Answer 1

The gorgeous lupines, the Russell Hybrids, that everybody drools over in the catalogs must be fairly hard to grow unless you have the perfect weather for them. England must have it, because that is is where they originated, and the pictures from there are breathtaking.
Almost everywhere in the US and southern Canada has some lupine or lupine relative that grows there naturally. Wildseedfarms.com lists 4 different ones for different regions. What seems to unify their needs is good drainage. In the south, where few lupines live, there are a couple of lupine relatives that do well- Thermopsis, and Baptisia. And there is even an annual lupine available for hot summer areas- Lupinus hartweggii I think it is, from Mexico.
So far, I am only familiar with growing the Thermopsis and the Baptisia. At any rate, if you are willing to settle for [much] less than the Russell Hybrids, I'm sure research and/or trial and error could come up with a satisfying lupine for your home in Kansas/Missouri.

Answer 2

Lupine is a biannual. It will not bloom the first year you plant it. The second year it will bloom, then reseed itself. Grows wild in Wy, MT, Co...much colder states than KS good luck

Answer 3

It grows native here in minnesota and wisconsin as well. It could be to hot for you. Lupines like sandier soild where they grow native....maybe you could try a dappled shady area or shade in the hottest part of the day.