Other Names:  Bush Lupine, Coastal Bush Lupine

Description:

A vigorous shrub variety, producing spikes of eye catching, usually yellow flowers; a tremendous visual impact when massed in the garden or border plantings

Ornamental Features

Yellow Tree Lupine features bold spikes of yellow pea-like flowers rising above the foliage from early spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has bluish-green evergreen foliage. The narrow palmate leaves remain bluish-green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Yellow Tree Lupine is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Self-Seeding

Yellow Tree Lupine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Yellow Tree Lupine will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for sandy, acidic soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.