Grape Soda Lupine

Grape Soda Lupine - Our Notecard Photo

Description on back of card;

Lupinus excubitus

Grape Soda Lupine is found blooming in great profusion throughout Big Bear Valley during Spring. Most prevalent on rocky slopes and in dry meadows Lupinus excubitus is recognized from a distance by the silver-gray tint of its foliage which is caused by fine silvery hairs covering the leaves. Lovely violet flowers accented with yellow banner spots give off a sweet scent reminiscent of grape soda. A member of the Pea family, this butterfly attracting California wildflower is native to many dry rocky areas (between 3,000 and 10,000 feet in elevation), from the eastern Sierra Nevada to Baja. Grape Soda Lupine will start from seed sewn directly in your mountain garden but germination may take a year or more. Try speeding up the process by filing a nick in each seed just before planting.