Lupinus West Country™ 'Tequila Flame'

Lupinus West Country™ 'Tequila Flame' is a showy perennial offering late spring to early summer interest. The tallest and lushest western species, 'Tequila Flame' sets elongated terminal clusters dense with pea-like, bicolor, red and yellow blooms. Borne on tall, stout stems rising above the foliage, the bold, flamelike flower spikes attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden and make excellent cuts for bouquets.

A Lupinus polyphyllus variety, commonly called bigleaf lupine, blue-pod lupine, or meadow lupine, West Country 'Tequila Flame' is a robust herbaceous plant with a vigorous growth rate and a sturdy, upright habit of large, palmate, green leaves, with many leaflets, growing into a well-established clump. The distinctive foliage is a popular addition to floral arrangements. A cottage garden favorite and summer border classic, lupine is shown to best effect when massed or grouped in beds, borders, and landscapes, but it also makes an excellent specimen or "thriller" (focal point) in a container garden.

Easy to grow and low maintenance, lupines prefer sunny to partially sunny locations with rich, moderately fertile, evenly moist, well-draining soils, having a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Their native habitat is along streambanks, meadows, and other moist or wet locations. The plants grow best in cooler climates, when days are warm and sunny and nights are cool. They are intolerant of extreme summer heat, so mulching may be beneficial to keep roots cool and moist. Deadheading spent flowers extends the bloom time and pruning back after blooming rejuvenates the foliage. The plant is deer resistant.