6 Tips for Getting Lupins To Flower + Best Varieties To Grow

Lupins are popular flowers with colorful spikes that bloom in the spring and summer. Depending on where you live and the varieties you plant, lupins can be annuals or perennials.

How can you get lupines to flower? To encourage lupins to flower, apply a high-phosphorus fertilizer, deadhead spent flowers, check for pests and disease routinely, and provide the best growing conditions as possible, such as watering consistently and ensuring the plants are receiving adequate light.

You’ll need to create the right conditions for these flowers to thrive. Lupins do well in environments with plenty of sun exposure, water, and good drainage.

The soil should be rich and neutral, and you should check for pests and diseases regularly to create a healthy environment.

A high-phosphorus fertilizer can help with growth and flower production, and you can encourage more growth by deadheading flowers that start fading.

Read on to learn more about caring for these flowers.

How To Get Lupins To Flower

Lupins were originally wildflowers. You can find hybrids bred for their colorful shoots and hardiness.

Overall, most varieties are easy to care for, but you can do a few things to help these flowers bloom.

1. Apply a High-Phosphorus Fertilizer

Phosphorus is an essential mineral that supports energy transfer and photosynthesis. Flowers also need phosphorus to produce buds.

There is no need to use a high-phosphorus fertilizer if your soil already has enough phosphorus. However, you can promote blooming by applying a high-phosphorus fertilizer if phosphorus levels are low on your property.

Look for signs of phosphorus deficiency that include dark or pale leaves, red or violet coloration on the leaves, and slow growth.

2. Deadhead Lupins as Soon as Flowers Fade

Most lupin varieties bloom during the spring and summer. At the end of the summer, the flowers will start fading. They will eventually dry and release seeds.

You should deadhead lupins as soon as you see the flowers fade.

You can cut the spike with some garden shears. More stems will grow, and you will get a second bloom for a few additional weeks.

Deadheading lupins is important because seeds can fall and cause more flowers to grow and compete for water and nutrients. Besides, lupin seeds can be poisonous to pets and wildlife.

3. Check for and Treat Pests Regularly

Several pests can affect lupins, including:

Snails and slugs.
Spider mites.
Mealybugs.
Gnats.
Whiteflies.
Aphids.
Blister beetles.

Insects like aphids will suck the sap out of the flowers and cause them to become dry. Plus, these insects produce waste that promotes fungal growth.

Look for signs of chewing and damage on the leaves. You might be able to see the insects.

You can protect lupins with pesticides or by coating them with horticultural oils. Introducing natural predators like lady beetles or lacewings is another possible option.

4. Inspect Often To Spot Signs of Disease

Lupins are susceptible to viruses, rot, and fungus. All these diseases can prevent blooming.

Look for common symptoms like cankers, brown or dried leaves, unusual stem growth, stunted plants, or cotton-like fungus.

You can remove the affected parts or cut the entire plant to prevent the disease from spreading.

5. Water Consistently

Lupins do well in moist soil, but you need to provide good drainage to prevent root rot. The general consensus is to water every three to four days.

6. Make Sure Lupins Are Receiving Enough Bright Light

These colorful flowers need full sun exposure. They can grow in Zones 4 through 8, but you might want to provide some minimal shade in Zone 9.

Best Lupin Varieties to Grow

The Lupinus genus is incredibly varied. It includes over 200 species of wildflowers and several hybrids.

You can grow different varieties to add color to your landscaping project:

Large-leaved lupin is a robust perennial that grows large spikes of flowers. It can reach 3 to 5 feet in height.
Lupinus albus ‘Cashmere Cream’ grows tall, white flowers in June.
Lupinus arboreus or yellow bush lupin is an evergreen shrub that will add volume to your flower beds.
Lupinus ‘Terracotta’ is a popular variety thanks to its colorful red and orange flowers that bloom from May to July.
Russell hybrid lupins are another popular option. These hybrid flowers grow from May to June and can reach 30 to 36 inches in height. They can be blue, yellow, pink, purple, red, or white.
The Arroyo lupine is a variety that is native to California. It’s an annual plant with purple flowers.
The Riverbank lupin is a wildflower that grows fast, and that can reach 5 feet in height.
Miniature lupins are annual or perennial flowers native to the Western U.S. They typically don’t exceed 16 inches in height.
European yellow lupins are native to Southern Europe. These bright yellow flowers are great for attracting pollinating insects.
Arctic Lupins grow blue or purple pea-like flowers. These plants are typically 24 inches tall.

Tips for Growing Lupins in Pots

You can grow lupins in pots if you use large containers. You should know that growing these plants in containers can make them more vulnerable to pests and diseases.

Keep your potted lupins in a spot where insects won’t get to them.

You’ll get better results if you use loam-based compost with good drainage. Remember to deadhead old spikes as soon as they fade and keep the soil moist.

You can use fertilizer, like this slow-release feed, to support blooming, but you should use small quantities when growing lupins in containers since high phosphorus levels can have adverse effects.