Photo copyright © 2019 Mariposa Native Plants
A medium-sized native shrub in the pea family (Fabaceae), Silver Bush Lupine is an evergreen shrub that grows widely across California. It has a reputation for being short-lived, but with proper care, and good soil drainage, it can thrive for a couple of decades and grow to be head-high and arms-length wide. It has silvery leaves (which help to reflect harsh summer sunlight), faint blue to purplish flowers, and it produces good seed crops to propagate itself. It is one of the most attractive and popular of California native plants.
L.albifrons in mid-spring, foothills near Bridgeport, Mariposa County. Photo copyright © 2020 Mariposa Native Plants.
L.albifrons is found throughout California, with the exception of the southern Central Valley, the high and eastern Sierra Nevada, and the Mojave Desert. It is thus one of the most widespread native plants in California. Elevation: sea level to 5,000 ft. (1500m). Sun: full. Temperature: cold tolerant to -10°F (-20°C). Soil: variable, but very well-drained soil, pH from 6 to 8.
Fairly easy to care for once established. Needs a site that has full sun and very well-drained soil. Do not locate L.albifrons close to plants that require summer water. Water it 1 gallon (4 liters) of water once per week in the first summer after planting. Once established, Silver Bush Lupine, should not be watered in the summer. The best time to plant from the container is in the fall, just before winter rains arrive. It's also feasible to plant L.albifrons from the container in January or February for Mariposa and surrounding counties. This shrub is very quick growing. It has a reputation for being short-lived, but it's premature death is often brought about by supplying water during the warmer months. Again, once it has been established, do not apply supplemental water to this plant.
Foothills (to 2500 feet) and lower mountains (2500-3500 feet).
A large specimen of L.albifrons in mid-spring, Sierra foothills, in full flower. This plant is about six feet (2 meters) tall and just as wide. Photo copyright © 2020 Mariposa Native Plants.
Silver Bush Lupine is deer and gopher resistant. Young plants may not be so capable of avoiding gopher chews; it might be prudent to put a gopher screen in the hole where a new L.albifrons is to be dropped. Bees love this plant. Silver Bush Lupine is host to a number of butterflies and moths, including a couple of blue butterflies: Boisduval's Blue and the Arrowhead Blue.
The plants in the Fabaceae (Pea) family are somewhat susceptible to diseases. But for those in the Lupinus genus, including L.albifrons, the impact of plant pathogens can be greatly mitigated by situating the plant in well-drained soil and avoiding supplemental water in warmer months (once the plant is established). One thing to look for is powdery mildew, a white, gray, or black powder on the leaves of your L.albifrons plants. This fungal disease is symptomatic of excess water. Trim off the affected parts of the plant--leaves and badly affected stems. If this occurs in the first summer for the plant, when supplemental water is necessary, then do not spray the plant with water, but apply it to the base of the plant (once a week), and keep the leaves dry.
Several L.albifrons plants on a foothill slope with significant pocket gopher and California mule deer presence. Photo copyright © 2021 Mariposa Native Plants.
The Silver Bush Lupine is one of only a few plants that support the larvae of the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly, Icaricia icariodes missionensis, native to the San Francisco Bay Area.
#1 container, about 1 gallon.