Lupin Russell Mix is just great in your garden. The strong, vibrant colours make a real splash. Their height makes them perfect for peeking over lower plants. Those blooms support pollinators, in particular bumblebees, and are just as good as a cut flower as they are staying in your garden. Indeed picking them can encourage more to follow. And of course, they are a reliable perennial returning year after year. It doesn’t matter what sort of garden you have, lupins fit right in. Have I convinced you yet?
🌸 Flowering: May to July
📏 Height: 90-110cm
🌿 Perennial
💧 Drought tolerant once established
Sow: soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing. Sow into individual pots about 6mm deep. Keep in a warm place at 18-20C. Germination usually takes 18-21 days but can be as long as 60 days! You can sow from February to June or in September.
Grow: when the seedlings are large enough pot up as needed and grow on in cooler conditions until it’s time to harden off. Plant out carefully (so the roots don’t get damaged) after danger of frost has passed. They like good drainage in sun or dappled shade. Space your plants 30-45cm apart. They may need staking in windier places.
Enjoy: I’ve given a plethora of reasons to choose these lupins. Really, all that's left is to grow them and enjoy them!
🏡 In your garden
• City and courtyard gardens
• Cottage and informal gardens
• Coastal sites
• Flower borders and beds
• Cutting gardens
✂️ Cut flower
• Fresh vase life 5 to 7 days
• Cut the stems when the lower flowers are just opening
• Quickly place the stems into deep, cool water
🐝 Pollinator friendly
The pea-like individual florets provide a reliable food source for bumblebees and other pollinators during late spring and early summer
🎨 Natural dye plant
• The colours depend on what you use. The leaves and blooms together can produce shades of green, while the stalks and leaves produce yellow tones
• Flower colours alone can be quite varied but need to be prepared taking care to keep the dye bath below boiling. Blue/purple shades are particularly difficult to achieve.
• For cotton, hemp and linen fabrics you need a tannin bath first, then an alum mordant before dyeing.
💡 Did you know?
Your brightly coloured Russell Lupins love to cross-pollinate. If you let them seed around, don't expect their youngsters to look exactly like their parents. Over the years you may find the colour balance changing as new generations appear.
⚠️ CAUTION
Harmful if eaten.
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