Evermann’s Lupine: A Rare Northwestern Native Worth Knowing About
If you’re a native plant enthusiast with a taste for the uncommon, you might have stumbled across Evermann’s lupine (Lupinus evermannii) in your botanical wanderings. This perennial wildflower is one of those hidden gems of the lupine family – though in this case, it’s so hidden that even seasoned gardeners might scratch their heads when they hear its name!
What Makes Evermann’s Lupine Special?
Evermann’s lupine is a native perennial forb that calls the northwestern United States home. As a member of the diverse lupine family, it shares the characteristic growth habit of its more famous cousins – it’s an herbaceous plant that lacks woody stems and dies back to ground level each winter, only to emerge again the following spring.
You might occasionally see this plant listed under its botanical synonym, Lupinus sparhawkianus, which can add to the confusion when trying to track down information about it.
Where Does It Grow?
Evermann’s lupine has a rather exclusive address – it’s only found in three states: Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. This limited geographic distribution makes it a true regional specialty, and likely contributes to why so little cultivation information is available about this particular species.
The Challenge for Home Gardeners
Here’s where things get a bit tricky for eager gardeners. While Evermann’s lupine is undoubtedly a legitimate native plant worth celebrating, detailed information about its specific growing requirements, appearance, and garden performance is surprisingly scarce. This lack of readily available cultivation information suggests a few possibilities:
- It may be quite rare in the wild
- It hasn’t been widely cultivated or studied for garden use
- It may have very specific habitat requirements that make it challenging to grow
- Seeds or plants may not be commercially available
What This Means for Your Garden
If you’re set on growing native lupines in your northwestern garden, you might want to consider some better-documented alternatives that will give you more reliable results. Other native lupine species in the region, such as large-leaved lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) or silky lupine (Lupinus sericeus), have more established track records in cultivation and better availability through native plant suppliers.
These alternatives can provide the classic lupine flower spikes and nitrogen-fixing benefits you’re looking for, while being much easier to source and grow successfully.
The Bottom Line
Evermann’s lupine represents one of those fascinating examples of regional plant diversity that reminds us how much botanical richness exists in North America’s native flora. While it might not be the best choice for most home gardens due to limited availability and cultivation information, it’s worth appreciating as part of the incredible lupine family that graces our western landscapes.
If you do happen to encounter this species in the wild during your hiking adventures in Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming, take a moment to appreciate this uncommon native – just remember to leave it undisturbed for future generations to discover!
For gardeners eager to support native pollinators and add lupine beauty to their landscapes, focusing on the more readily available native lupine species will likely yield better results while still supporting local ecosystems.