Desert Lupine
Lupinus Shockleyi
Shockley's lupine (Lupinus shockleyi), also called Desert Lupine, is a hardy species of flowering plant native to arid regions of the southwestern United States. It thrives in desert ecosystems and is well-suited to sandy and rocky soils where many plants struggle to grow.
Key Features:
Appearance: This lupine is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial with silvery-green leaves covered in fine hairs to reduce water loss. Its flowers are typically blue to lavender, forming compact clusters that add a splash of color to the desert landscape in spring.
Habitat: Shockley's lupine is commonly found in sandy washes, open flats, and slopes at elevations ranging from low deserts to higher arid regions.
Adaptations: Like other lupines, it belongs to the legume family and has the ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, helping it survive in nutrient-poor environments.
This plant contributes to the biodiversity of desert habitats, offering nectar for pollinators such as bees and butterflies while stabilizing soil in harsh conditions. Its tough nature and delicate blooms are a perfect example of desert adaptability.
It is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, where it grows in open desert habitat.
It is an annual herb growing up to 30 centimeters tall. Each palmate leaf is made up of 8 to 10 leaflets measuring 1 to 3 centimeters in length. The inflorescence is a small spiral of flowers. Each flower is about half a centimeter long and deep purple-blue in color with a yellowish patch on its banner. The fruit is an oval legume pod coated in thick, inflated hairs.
Calscape
https://calscape.org/loc-California/Desert%20Lupine%20(Lupinus%20shockleyi)
