Lupine plants (Lupinus) are members of the pea family and are native to both North America and Europe. This plant grows 3 to 4 feet tall and its leaves have an interesting, almost hand-like shape. Lupine develops attractive, lightly scented flower spikes that sometimes grow to more than 12 inches in length. This flower is available in a variety of colors, including white, blue, apricot and red.
Choose an area of your yard or garden that receives full sun to partial shade most of the day. Make sure that the soil in the chosen location is well-drained, as fungal disease can be a problem if lupine plants remain too moist.
Use a garden rake to loosen the soil. Remove any rocks that you may find and discard. Sow the seeds liberally and cover with a 1/8-inch layer of soil. Be cautious not to cover more deeply than recommended because lupine seeds will not germinate without sufficient sunlight.
Water the seeds until the soil is damp, but not soggy. Continue to water whenever there is not enough rainfall to keep the soil moist.
Thin the seedlings when they emerge, leaving 18 to 24 inches between each plant. Continue to water the lupine whenever rainfall slows and the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
Fertilize with a general purpose fertilizer once each month. Stop fertilizing after lupine has ceased blooming for the season.
Clip off faded flowers to encourage a new wave of blooms in late summer.