Sundial Lupine: A Rare Native Beauty Worth Preserving in Your Garden
Meet the sundial lupine, a charming native wildflower that’s quietly disappearing from our landscapes. This delicate perennial might not be the showiest plant in the garden center, but for those who appreciate rare native treasures, it’s absolutely worth seeking out—with one important caveat we’ll discuss below.
What Makes Sundial Lupine Special
Sundial lupine (Lupinus perennis perennis var. occidentalis) is a native herbaceous perennial that belongs to the pea family. Unlike its woody cousins, this forb lacks significant woody tissue and survives winter through underground buds. It’s a true American native, calling the lower 48 states home for thousands of years.
Where You’ll Find This Native Gem
This lupine variety has quite an impressive range across the eastern and midwestern United States. You can find it growing naturally in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. That’s nearly 20 states where this lovely wildflower once thrived!
A Word of Caution: This Plant Needs Our Help
Important Note: Before you rush out to find sundial lupine for your garden, know that this plant is rare and needs our protection. In New Jersey, it’s listed as S2 (imperiled) and appears on the Highlands Listed species roster. This means populations are small and vulnerable.
If you want to grow sundial lupine, please only purchase plants or seeds from reputable native plant nurseries that ethically propagate their stock. Never dig plants from the wild—this could harm already struggling populations.
Why Your Garden (and Local Wildlife) Will Love Sundial Lupine
Native plants like sundial lupine are garden workhorses in ways you might not expect. As a member of the pea family, lupines naturally fix nitrogen in the soil, essentially fertilizing your garden for free. Plus, native wildflowers support local ecosystems in ways that non-native plants simply can’t match.
While we don’t have specific data on this particular variety’s wildlife benefits, lupines as a group are known to support various butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. The flowers typically appear in upright clusters, creating vertical interest in naturalized gardens and meadow plantings.
Growing Sundial Lupine Successfully
Since specific growing information for this variety isn’t readily available, we recommend treating it similarly to other native lupines. Here are some general guidelines that typically work well for native lupines:
- Plant in well-draining soil—lupines don’t appreciate wet feet
- Choose a sunny to partially sunny location
- Be patient—lupines can be slow to establish but are long-lived once settled
- Avoid heavy fertilization, as lupines prefer lean soils
- Allow plants to self-seed naturally to help increase populations
The Bottom Line: A Plant Worth Preserving
Sundial lupine represents something special in the native plant world—a connection to our continent’s natural heritage that’s becoming increasingly rare. While it might require a bit more effort to source responsibly, adding this native lupine to your garden contributes to conservation efforts while creating habitat for local wildlife.
Just remember: if you can’t find ethically sourced sundial lupine, consider other native lupine species that might be more readily available in your area. Your local native plant society can point you toward suitable alternatives that will provide similar benefits without putting pressure on rare populations.
Sometimes the most meaningful garden additions are the quiet ones—the plants that connect us to place and help preserve our natural heritage for future generations. Sundial lupine is definitely one of those plants.
