All About Lupine Flowers
By Kathleen Karlsen, MA

Lupines are symbolic of imagination. The name "lupinus" actually means "of wolves" due to the mistaken belief that ancient peoples had that lupines robbed the soil of nutrients. The fact is that lupines add nitrogen to the soil. The Romans used lupines for fertilizer and ate the high-protein seeds.

Lupine Flower Distribution

In the United States, lupines grow well in the Pacific Northwest, the West Coast, New England and other northern states. They are both cultivated lowers and wildflowers. Lupines also grow abundantly throughout Europe as far north as Norway.

Other Uses for Lupines

Lupines come in blue, pink, white, yellow and purple. The flowers are useful for dyeing cloth. The seeds are said to aid digestion and have been used in skin care for removing spots from the face. The Romans used the flat seeds for theater money.

Interesting Facts About Lupines

Lupines are the only food for the Karner blue butterfly's caterpillar. The larvae crawl up the stems of wild lupines to feed on the new leaves in mid-April.

Growing Lupines

The scent from lupine blossoms is like that of honey, a nice addition to any garden. The magnificent flower spikes can be from 36-60 inches high. Lupines need full sun, rich soil and lots of moisture. They can grow in poor soils if the soil is not too alkaline.

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For more information on flower symbolism:
Illustrated Flower Symbolism Guide
The Symbolic Meaning of Flowers
Garden Flower Symbolism and Flower Facts
Flower Symbolism and Mary Gardens 

Reference:
Yeh, Ning. An Album of Chinese Brush Painting: Eighty Paintings and Ideas. Huntington Beach, CA: Ning Yeh's Art Studio, 1986.

For Chinese brush painting supplies, please visit:
http://www.orientalartsupply.com/?afid=203©2008 Living Arts Enterprises LLC See a complete list of articles in our Article Library.

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