Description
This diminutive perennial prefers sites with very little competition. When harvesting Fragaria chiloensis on north beach of the Queen Charlotte Islands, I noticed its a symbiotic colony of this nitrogen fixing lupine. Being of close to the same height, neither one shades each other out.
The lupine itself is small with white and mauve-blue flowers. Will sprawl rather than be upright.
- Seed Count: 20-25
- Collection Date: July 2015
- Hardiness Zone: 6-8
- Height and Width: 30cm x 30cm
- Germination test type: hand sort
How to germinate Lupinus littoralis seed:
Germinate by gently scarifying the seed by rubbing it with a small amount of coarse sand between my hands for 10 seconds. This seed is small so don’t get over enthusiastic you only want to scarify the seed coat not mortally wound the embryo. Soak seed in tepid water 24 hours. Seed should swell (re-scarify and soak again if this does not occur. Surface sow in a coarse sand; tamp firm and mist. Keep moist with clear plastic cover (needs light to germinate). Optimum germination temperature: 15-20 C. Germinates in 21 days. Use a plate to catch any material that falls when you scarify.
