Native Habitat:
Open grasslands, dry meadows, and rocky slopes in western North America, including the Willamette Valley. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun.
 
Bloom Time:
April – June
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Annual herb, 6–18 inches tall, with palmate leaves and slender, branching stems. Produces spikes of small, pale blue to lavender pea-like flowers.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Full sun; thrives in well-drained sandy, loamy, or gravelly soils. Tolerates dry, nutrient-poor sites once established.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Camassia quamash, Achillea millefolium, Eriophyllum lanatum, Sidalcea campestris, Festuca roemeri.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Adds early-season color, fine texture, and nitrogen-fixing benefits to urban meadows, pollinator gardens, and naturalized landscapes. Works well in mixed wildflower plantings and low-maintenance native borders.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Flowers attract native bees, bumblebees (Bombus spp.), and butterflies. Foliage supports native caterpillars and provides shelter for insects and small invertebrates.
 
Historical Use:
Used ornamentally and ecologically to improve soil fertility; some Indigenous groups recognized related lupines for medicinal or dye purposes.