Living in the wet PAC NW, how & when should I plant lupine seeds? - Knowledgebase Question

Name: MJ Peck
Port Townsend, WA (Zone 7b)

Question by winniwoman
August 30, 2017

I live on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, on the Olympic Peninsula of the Pacific Northwest U.S. From most of May - September it is above 70 degrees reaching into the high 80's with very little to no rain. We went over 50 days in a row with no rain this summer! We rarely get into the mid-30's in the winter, but does it ever rain! Starting in October it almost never stops until the end of April. My yard has about 2 - 3 feet of pretty good soil and bark mulch on top of solid clay. A friend gave me some seeds for red lupines. How and when should I start them? What can I do to be successful with them?

Name: Carol
Santa Ana, ca
Sunset zone 22, USDA zone 10 A.

Answer from ctcarol
August 30, 2017

It probably depends on which kind of lupine it is, but I don't think most will tolerate transplanting, so I would suggest planting seeds in place in the fall. We have less rain than you, but in the wild they come up in the spring. I believe they can take the winter temps on the west coast.

Name: Daisy I
Reno, Nv (Zone 6b)
Not all who wander are lost

A comment from DaisyI
August 30, 2017

Yes, they grow quite easily from seed after spending the winter outside. I cover them with enough soil so the birds don't steal them. I have never had luck with transplanting Lupine.

Name: Deb
Planet Earth (Zone 8b)

A comment from Bonehead
August 31, 2017

I agree with the above. The wild plain purple lupine that grows along our roadsides simply drop their seed when they are ripe and reliably self-seed. Lovely plant.

Name: MJ Peck
Port Townsend, WA (Zone 7b)

Answer from winniwoman
May 12, 2018

Thank you all for your answers. We are xing our fingers that our seeds planted late winter will do some sprouting soon! ~ MJ

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