Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Lupinus ammophilus

In hot dry areas, some species of Lupine may be sparse, short, and have few flowers; in moist woods other Lupine become luxuriously bushy, tall, with numerous flowers. Lupines have a long flowering period and they are one of the most eye-catching flowering plants in the Four Corners area. (They also provide magnificent displays in many other areas, e.g., the Blue Bonnets of Texas and the Bush Lupine of the California coast). In the Four Corners, look for some Lupines such as L. caudatus flowering in March and April and others such as L. argenteus flowering into September. All of the Four Corners Lupines have numerous (often dozens of) blue/purple, five-part flowers making up long (often numerous) racemes.

Because they hybridize, exact species identification of Lupines is often exceedingly difficult: Intermountain Flora states, "The taxonomy of the small-flowered perennial lupines is notoriously difficult. No sexual incompatibilities interfere with free genesis of fertile hybrids which blur the already precarious distinctions...." Utah flora expert Stanley Welsh says, "The genus [Lupinus] is notoriously difficult because of lack of clear diagnostic features."

Linnaeus named this genus in 1753. "Lupinus" (Latin for "Wolf") was so named because of the erroneous belief that the species degraded land.

Lupinus ammophilus (Lupine)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring, summer.
Mesa Verde National Park (with the snow-capped La Plata Mountains in the background), May 31, 2004.

Lupinus ammophilus prefers sandy soils, blooms in the spring, and fades and withers by summer. It is common and quite showy in dense patches along the road in Mesa Verde National Park. A close inspection shows the characteristic blue flowers but often with white at or near the tip of each flower.

"Ammophilus" is Greek for "sand loving".

Lupinus ammophilus(Lupine)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring, summer.
Mesa Verde National Park, May 31, 2004.

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Lupinus ammophilus