Parish’s Lupine
Lupinus latifolius var. parishii
ABOUT
There are an abundance of lupine species in California, of all shapes and sizes, but my personal favorite is Parish’s Lupine. It is a monster, towering 6-7 feet with leaves the size of your hand (typical lupine species are a few inches to 2-3 feet tall).
While most lupines are annuals that love dry, sunny conditions - Parish’s Lupines are perennials that thrive in shade and moisture, adapted to life along streams in the oak woodland understory.
When they are not in flower they are fairly inconspicuous, simply a group of big leaves gently hanging out near water. Then come May they put on a show, shooting up 3-foot tall, bubble gum pink, inflorescences. I remember the first moment realizing that these were in fact, lupines. I was floored, I never knew lupines could grow so big - they reminded me of foxgloves from back home in the Pacific Northwest.
Growing From Seed
Like most lupines, the seeds of Parish’s Lupine looks like smooth round pebbles, about the size of a tic-tac. They have a hard seed coat, which naturally gets worn down in nature, until it’s ready to germinate.
To germinate your own seeds, it helps to scratch or nick the seed coat before sewing. Some people chip them with a knife, others boil the seeds. I’ve had success simply grinding them ever-so-gently with a large rock (too much - and the seed will get crushed/damaged).
Then broadcast them (I use seed starter soil/perlite in seed flats) and moisten the soil, no need to bury them. I had successful germination with 1-2 weeks. Remember these are moisture loving plants, so best not to let them dry out especially at a young age.
Baby Parish’s Lupine, a few weeks old, showing its first true leaves. Those hairs (or trichomes) help reduce water loss, reduces air flow, and deter herbivores.
Range
While Broadleaf Lupine (lupinus latifolius) is fairly common across all of California, this subspecies (parishii) is uncommon and limited to Southern California’s coastal region.