Sierra lupine facts for kids

The Sierra lupine (Lupinus grayi) is a beautiful wild plant that belongs to the lupin family. It's often called the Sierra lupine because it grows mostly in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

This special plant is only found in California. It grows all along the Sierra Nevada mountain range, including its lower hills and even the Tehachapi Mountains.

Sierra Lupine: A Mountain Wildflower

The Sierra lupine is a common sight in mountain forests. Sometimes, it covers meadows like a soft, green carpet with its lovely purple flowers.

What Does It Look Like?

This plant is a low-growing herb that lives for many years. It spreads out to form mats that are about 20 to 30 centimeters (about 8 to 12 inches) tall.

Its leaves are quite interesting! Each leaf looks a bit like the palm of your hand with fingers spreading out. They are made up of 5 to 11 smaller leaf parts, called leaflets, which can be up to 3.5 centimeters (about 1.4 inches) long. The leaves have a soft, woolly feel and are green.

Flowers and Fruits

The Sierra lupine produces tall spikes of flowers. These flower clusters are very dense, with many flowers packed together. Each flower is just over a centimeter long. They are usually purple or blue, and many have a bright yellow or reddish patch on one of their petals.

After the flowers bloom, the plant grows a hairy seed pod. This pod is a type of legume, similar to a pea pod. It can grow up to 3.5 centimeters (about 1.4 inches) long and holds the plant's seeds.