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Blooms for a border

Lupinus polypyllus is ideal for borders and rock gardens

Lupinus polypyllus is a large species of annuals, perennials and evergreen shrubs from the Mediterranean, North Africa and South America. It gets its name from the Latin lupus `wolf'. Most have short-stemmed palmate, often soft, hairy, mid-green mainly basal leaves with lance shaped leaflets; some with silvery green leaves.

Long terminal racemes or spikes of pea-like flowers in many colours are borne mainly in summer. The flowers are deep blue, purple, pink, mauve yellow or white.

There are numerous hybrid perennials, which form dense clumps of palmate leaves and bear colourful flowers. Bi-colours are common in the George Russel hybrids.

They are much finer garden plants with larger and heavier flower trusses. Larger Lupins are grown in borders and smaller ones in rock gardens.

Propagation is through seeds or basal cuttings. Soak the seeds for 24 hours before sowing in seedbed.

Grow the plants in moderately fertile and well-drained sandy soil in full sun or partial shade. Indoors, grow them in equal parts of loam, leaf-mould and grit. Ground should be moist at all times.

CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN

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