Do lupines spread easily?
Individual lupines plants do not spread. As they get older the root gets bigger and sends up more flower stalks. Lupines, do, however, produce dozens of pealike seeds per plant, which are dispersed when the pods pop open in late July or early August. Lupines are legumes and can improve a soil’s fertility over time. Light: Full sun is preferred. Lupine can grow in part shade, but flowering will be lessened. Soil: Lupine needs well-draining soil above all else.When to plant: if planting lupine from seed, direct sow in the garden in late fall or early winter for blooms the following spring. You can also sow seeds in the spring 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, but your plants will bloom later in the summer.Lupines prefer full sun; they’ll grow in light shade but won’t flower as profusely. They also prefer sandy, well-draining soil and can’t survive waterlogged conditions.Water lupine during periods of dry weather. Use an acidifying, phosphorous-heavy fertilizer when planting lupine. Deadhead lupine to encourage continuous flowering.Do lupine plants spread? Individual lupine plants do not spread, but they do produce seed pods, which will each drop up to a dozen seeds.
Is lupine the same as Wolfsbane?
An Old German and Old English word for the lupin is “wolf bean”, not to be confused with “wolfsbane,” which is Aconitum or Monk’s Hood and also highly poisonous. The most common adverse effects are gas, bloating, and stomach pain. Lupin is LIKELY UNSAFE when products with toxic levels of alkaloids (sometimes called bitter lupin) are used. They can cause many adverse effects which can lead to breathing problems and death.Poisonous wild lupin. Originally, the seeds and to a small extent the leaves of the lupin contained toxic alkaloids, lupinine and sparteine. These bitter substances have a toxic effect on humans.
What is special about lupine?
Wild lupine is actually a nitrogen-fixating plant, meaning it enhances soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air into a useful form that can be absorbed by organisms. Nitrogen fixation allows lupine plants to tolerate nutrient-poor soil, like its preferred sandy habitat. Other than deadheading, the only major cutback lupines need is at the end of the season. After a few heavy fall frosts, the herbaceous perennial dies back to the ground. Foliage turns brown, shrivels, and dries.Lupines are hardy perennials that grow well in a wide variety of conditions. This low-maintenance plant goes dormant during the winter, with the top growth dying entirely to the ground.
Are lupins safe to eat?
For many people, foods containing lupin are safe to eat. However, some people, especially those allergic to peanuts, may have allergic reactions after eating lupin or foods containing ingredients from lupin (like lupin flour). Reactions can be severe and can include anaphylaxis. If you’re allergic to peanuts, you should be aware of the potential for a reaction to lupin. Lupin can be eaten as a whole bean, but lupin flour is increasingly used in baked goods and pasta, especially gluten-free products.
Are lupines toxic to dogs?
Dogs are susceptible to Lupine poisoning if they eat any plant part. Dogs might chew on the stems and leaves with lower alkaloid lupinine levels, although this can still cause reactions. This origin story is common among many invasive plant species. In parts of the Midwest and Northeast, western lupine is considered an invasive species, meaning its introduction has caused economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.Lupines are vulnerable to some fungal problems, including mildew, root rot, leaf blight, gray mold, and rust.