Why choose native plants? Pacific Northwest native plants know how to live here and how to thrive here. They often need much less water and less fertilizer. They spread slowly and are not invasive. They support a wide diversity of wildlife. And best of all, they look great!
Big leaf lupine is one of the tallest and most ornamental native lupine species in the west. This cheerful plant forms nice colonies in open fertile meadows, recently burned forest clearings, wetland edges, and streambanks. Used for beautiful riparian restoration projects, providing shaded microclimates for salmon and steelhead. In moist soils individual plants may reach up to 5 feet in height with tall vivid blue flower spikes that bloom over many weeks. This is a great bumble bee plant, and like many native legumes it is a likely host plant for various gossamer wing butterflies. Grows up to 48″ tall, 24″-36″ wide. Blooms April-June. Full sun, part sun/part shade. Photo courtesy of Northwest Meadowscapes.
