Description

Lupinus polyphyllus 

Perennial herbaceous plant with stout stems growing to 1.5 meters tall, covered in beautiful purplish blue flowers.

Height: 1.5m

Edible: Y

Medicine: Y

Other Uses: N

Poisonous: Y

Soil: Nutrient-poor soils

Watering: Damp to wet, can tolerate dry

Sun: Partial to full sun.

Usually found at: Moist habitats and seasonally wet soils.

Pollinators & wildlife: Bees

Ornamental: Pleasant fragrance and tall, showy flowers make the plant a favorite ornamental for gardeners

 

Leaves: Palmately compound with (5-) 9-17 leaflets 3–15 centimeters (1.2–5.9 in) long

Flowers: Produced on a tall spike, each flower 1–1.5 centimeters (0.39–0.59 in) long, most commonly blue to purple in wild plants

Berries: none

First Nations uses: Thompson tribes consider it poisonous, but known to use it medicinally. Salishan use it to make tonics. Kwakiutl are known to eat roots, fresh or steamed. Only folks with special knowledge of the preparation techniques can prepare the seeds as they are toxic.

 

Note: Native plant sales are pick-up only at Suwa’lkh School (1432 Brunette Ave in Coquitlam). Email suwa’lkh@freshroots.ca for more information.